Amid the continued escalation in Gaza, which has claimed more than 10,000 lives including 4,000 children, ActionAid notes that the most urgent priority for the Arab League Council’s emergency summit is an immediate permanent ceasefire to prevent further loss of life, and the risk of a regional conflict.  

In addition, a clear framework for the safe passage of adequate humanitarian and medical aid must be agreed upon. The month-long conflict has left the 2.2 million Gazans in desperate need of food, fuel, clean water, shelter, medical supplies, and other essential services. 

Riham Jafari, Coordinator of Advocacy and Communication for ActionAid Palestine, said: “The emergency summit is being held at a critical time when the humanitarian situation in Gaza is reaching catastrophic levels. The summit must go beyond the rhetoric by reaching resolutions and strategies for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of the Rafah border crossing so that life-saving humanitarian aid is delivered into Gaza in sufficient quantities.”  

The announcement of four-hour daily humanitarian pauses is a welcome development, but it does not live up to the aspirations of the Palestinian people in Gaza, who have lost so much in the last month. At this stage of the escalation, the survival of Gazans can only be guaranteed by a permanent ceasefire agreement and the restoration of full access to medical and humanitarian aid.   

The emergency summit presents an opportunity to increase diplomatic efforts toward a ceasefire and a resolution to this conflict.