United Nations in Palestine

The UN and its partners in Palestine are working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: 17 interconnected Goals which address the major development challenges faced by people in Palestine and around the world. These are the goals the UN is working on in Palestine:

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10 March 2025

Occupied Palestinian Territory: Israeli operations continue to have dire consequences

The UN relief agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) reports that Israeli authorities have started demolishing more than 16 buildings in Nur Shams refugee camp, after destroying more than two dozen homes over the past week in the occupied West Bank.Those displaced are staying at public shelters in Jenin and Tulkarm, with many lacking bare necessities, according to a new assessment from the UN aid coordination office (OCHA).“Less than half of the people our teams interviewed said they could afford food, with many reducing or skipping meals. Children are also unable to attend school,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters at the regular daily briefing in New York.Humanitarian effortsSince the beginning of the Israeli operation in January, humanitarian partners have been providing life-saving assistance, distributing food parcels and daily meals.Over 5,000 families have received cash assistance to meet their basic needs, and relief efforts have included the provision of bedding, dignity kits, water storage tanks and mobile latrines in Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas.Access restrictionsMeanwhile, according to OCHA, the closure of the Tayaseer checkpoint since February has severely hampered movement for more than 60,000 Palestinians.On the first Friday of Ramadan, these restrictions prevented thousands of Palestinian worshippers from reaching holy sites.While the Israeli authorities have allowed Palestinians access to East Jerusalem and the H2 area of Hebron, they have set up hundreds of metal barriers and imposed restrictions based on age and gender, with the condition that worshippers possess Israeli-issued permits.OCHA has deployed teams to identify potential protection risks and possible measures for Palestinians to cross, with particular attention to the most vulnerable.No aid entering GazaIn Gaza, humanitarian organizations warned on Friday that the closure of all crossings for nearly a week has cut off the flow of critical aid, exacerbating suffering among civilians who have already endured months of hardship.“It is critical that humanitarian assistance is allowed to enter Gaza without delay,” said Mr. Dujarric.Under international humanitarian law, Israel, as the occupying power, is required to ensure that people’s essential needs are met, including by facilitating aid into Gaza. , filtered_html

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05 March 2025

Gaza: Deep concern for civilians as aid crossings remain shut

UN humanitarians warned that the continued closure of key border crossings into Gaza is putting civilian lives at risk, just as they begin to recover from months of war, deprivation and hunger.Speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that the Kerem Shalom, Zikim and Erez crossings had remained closed for cargo for the third consecutive day, severely restricting the flow of humanitarian supplies into the devastated enclave.“The Israeli authorities have rejected our attempts to collect humanitarian supplies that crossed the Kerem Shalom border crossing before its closure,” he said, citing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).“Given the huge needs in Gaza, keeping the crossings closed will have devastating consequences,” he added, underscoring that Member States and those with influence must use all available means to ensure the ceasefire holds.Aid should not be used as ‘a weapon’: UNRWA chiefPhilippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), warned on Tuesday that Israel’s decision to halt aid should be reversed.“Humanitarian aid must continue to flow at scale similar to what we have seen over the past six weeks when the ceasefire began. This brought respite and relief to people in need,” he said in a post on the platform X.He noted that the vast majority of the people in Gaza rely on aid for their “sheer survival”, adding that water, medical care and electricity were essential to complement basic food assistance.“Aid and these basic services are non-negotiable. They must never be used as weapons of war,” Mr. Lazzarini stated.Services continueDespite the restrictions, UN agencies and humanitarian partners on the ground are working to sustain aid operations across the Gaza Strip, Mr. Dujarric said.On Monday, the dialysis unit at Al Rantisi Children’s Hospital in Gaza City resumed services on Tuesday, alongside a 25-bed in-patient unit. Paediatric services also resumed at the Indonesian Hospital in North Gaza.The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 29 child patients, along with 43 companions, were evacuated from Gaza to Jordan via Israel for specialized medical treatment. This marked the first WHO-supported medical evacuation to Jordan since the ceasefire began in January.Inside Gaza, WHO has also provided hygiene and sanitation supplies to thousands of women and girls, warning that the lack of access to clean water and sanitation could worsen mental health conditions for those who have been displaced.Escalation in the West BankIn the West Bank, Israeli military operations in Jenin have escalated, leading to more displacement and destruction, Mr. Dujarric reported.Israeli forces ordered residents in one part of Jenin city to evacuate their homes, displacing about 30 families “including at least three, who had been displaced previously,” he said.He added that Israeli forces used bulldozers, damaging infrastructure and causing power outages, while intensified access and movement restrictions to and from the city were also observed., filtered_html

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03 March 2025

‘This is our land’ – Building Gaza’s future from the wreckage of war

At night he sleeps under a tarpaulin sheet on the ruins of his family home. Like others returning to northern Gaza after months of being displaced by war, Sufian Al-Majdalawi clings to whatever he can find.Using small tools and his bare hands, he sifts through mounds of twisted debris and dirt to try and unearth belongings and important paperwork such as property deeds to prove he is the legal owner.He dreams of one day being able to rebuild; in the short-term, he hopes that even the rubble might hold some value.The war in Gaza has left an unprecedented level of destruction, with an estimated 51 million tons of rubble blanketing the landscape where bustling neighborhoods once thrived.According to a new UN damage and needs assessment report, over 60 per cent of homes – amounting to some 292,000 – and 65 per cent of roads have been destroyed, across the approximately 360 square kilometre enclave.As the international community ponders Gaza’s future and how to rebuild, Al-Majdalawi is sure of one thing: “We will not leave. That will not happen. This is our land.’’ Moving cautiously through the rubble, Yasser Ahmed says: “I am looking for my papers.” His desperate search is made even more daunting because adjacent structures have collapsed in on each other. “Maybe while I am removing the rubble, I will find a human body, an explosive device,’’ he adds, underlining the huge emotional and physical risks of dislodging debris in a war zone.Working with Palestinian authorities, UN development and environmental agencies and non-governmental organizations are looking at how to safely clear the rubble so that families can rebuild.With a fragile ceasefire in place, regional talks are underway on rebuilding Gaza after 16 months of conflict. Next Tuesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres heads to Cairo for a reconstruction summit called by Arab leaders.Meanwhile, UN staff are drawing on similar experiences in Mosul, Iraq, and the Syrian cities of Aleppo and Latakia, all decimated by war.UNOPS, a UN agency that provides infrastructure, procurement and project management services around the world, is part of Gaza’s ‘Debris Management Working Group.’The agency has conducted threat and risk assessments throughout the Territory, and has developed advanced GeoAI and remote sensing techniques, including 3D modeling technologies, to enhance explosive hazard evaluation and rubble removal strategies.UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva, following a recent trip to Gaza, says explosive hazard education had been provided to 250,000 Palestinians and some 1,000 humanitarian workers, providing “critical knowledge to stay safe and navigate explosive hazards effectively.”

UNDP, which helps countries reduce poverty, build resilience and achieve sustainable development, started removing rubble from Gaza in December 2024, weeks before a ceasefire began.UNDP’s Sarah Poole says about 28,500 tons of rubble were initially removed, and 290 tons of it used for roadworks to enhance humanitarian operations, restoring access to sites such as a hospital, a bakery and a critical water supply plant. Poole describes the issue of land and property ownership in Gaza as “very complex” – particularly when title deeds, inheritance records and other legal documents are lost or destroyed.

Amjad Al-Shawa, Director of the network of NGOs in the Gaza Strip, says the issue of rubble represents a “major challenge.’’

“We need a mechanism to dispose of the rubble which will take a long time, and which requires resources that are not available in the Gaza Strip,’’ he says.

“Today, this rubble also represents the possessions of the residents. Many disputes may arise between families.’’

Some $7 million has already been made available from various donors to aid the rubble removal – but Poole says an additional $40 million is needed “in this initial phase in order to significantly scale up the work.”“The issue of access and the ability to bring in some of the heavy equipment that is needed is also absolutely essential,” he adds.The challenge ahead looks daunting: Once-thriving neighborhoods have been leveled – very little remains. In this Territory where people turning 18 have already lived through five massive armed conflicts, the destruction this time is significantly worse.The cost of the damage to physical infrastructure has been estimated at some $30 billion, according to the UN. The housing sector was the hardest hit, with losses amounting to $15.8 billion. The costs of recovery and reconstruction are estimated at over $53 billion.“There is no residential life here. I look around and see nothing but destruction,’’ says Ahmed, standing in front of the wreckage of his house. “The hard work of 59 years – the number of years of my life – was lost, and everything is gone.’’“Everything is under the rubble,’’ he says. “I miss my home … a person is only comfortable in his home and his own place.”Nearby, Ramadan Katkat sits on the remnants of his home. Living in tents precariously perched atop mounds of rubble, he echoes the despair felt by many: Beneath them could lie a perilous mix of unexploded devices and human remains.His wish? “We want to live.’’Al-Majdalawi is adamant, though: “We are capable of rebuilding the land.”, filtered_html

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28 February 2025

Despite challenges, UNRWA says ‘unparalleled progress’ made during ceasefire

Since the ceasefire began in Gaza on 19 January, “unparalleled progress” has been made in providing desperately needed aid to families across the devastated enclave, said UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, on Thursday.Agency teams have worked around the clock to provide services to a people who are overwhelmed following 15 months of constant bombardment, forced displacement, and lack of critical supplies, the agency said in a press release.“This reflects UNRWA’s commitment to supporting families in Gaza through this unprecedented humanitarian crisis,” said Sam Rose, UNRWA’s acting director of Gaza Affairs, speaking from an UNRWA health centre in southern Gaza.“Despite every political and logistical challenge to the Agency, UNRWA remains resolute in its mission to provide essential services to families who need them now more than ever.”Last October, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, adopted two bills banning UNRWA from working in Israeli territory and enforcing a no-contact policy between national authorities and agency representatives. The laws took effect in January.Two million reachedIn a significant milestone, and in close coordination with other humanitarian partners, UNRWA has now provided food assistance to two million people, or over 90 per cent of the population, helping to bring some improvement to overall food security.The agency has also restored healthcare access to nearly 180,000 people in Khan Younis, Rafah and Gaza City through the re-opening of health centres.In addition, agency teams reached more than half a million with blankets, mattresses, floor mats, clothes, cooking equipment, and tarpaulins to protect from the rain.All agencies scale up supportThe recent polio campaign in Gaza concluded successfully, reaching over 600,000 children under the age of 10, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday.The World Health Organization (WHO) provided supplies to three hospitals and five health partners, benefiting 250,000 people across the Strip. Additionally, WHO supported the expansion of triage and emergency departments in Al-Shifa hospital with tents and 20 extra beds.Children’s agency UNICEF has delivered essential health kits, paediatric medicines, and newborn supplies for over 20,000 people at Al Awda Hospital in northern Gaza.UN partners have also scaled up food security, distributing 860,000 cooked meals daily – a 10 per cent increase from the previous week.Back to school, for someThe World Food Programme (WFP) has made subsidised bread available at 24 retail shops in the South and re-established four food distribution points in the north.Efforts to improve water and sanitation continue, with two water points established and expanded in North Gaza governorate, and two sections of water networks repaired in Khan Younis.As of Wednesday, 100,000 children have enrolled in school, marking a return to in-person learning after 16 months. A total of 165 public schools have reopened across Gaza.West Bank emergency: 40,000 forcibly displacedIn the West Bank, Israeli forces' operations in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas have led to further casualties and displacement, hindering access to essential services.The UN stresses the importance of respecting international law and protecting civilians.Listen below to audio from Ajith Sunghay who is the top UN human rights official for the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He told UN News on Thursday that with 40,000 now forcibly displaced from refugee camps in the West Bank, it seems “return is not an option” for at least a year as Israel forces dig in., filtered_html

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19 February 2025

UN Official: $53.2 billion needed for Palestinian recovery

The reconstruction of Gaza and the occupied West Bank will require an estimated $53.2 billion over the next ten years, according to the latest Damage and Needs Assessment from the UN and partners. “Palestinians will need joint action to address the immense recovery and reconstruction challenges ahead. A sustainable recovery process must restore hope, dignity, and livelihoods for the two million people in Gaza,” said Muhannad Hadi, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.The assessment estimates that $29.9 billion is required to repair physical infrastructure, while $19.1 billion is needed to address economic and social losses.Housing remains the most severely affected sector, accounting for the largest share of recovery needs, with $15.2 billion – or 30 percent of the total cost – earmarked for rebuilding homes.Over the next three years alone, $20 billion will be required to stabilise essential services and lay the foundation for long-term recovery.Commitment to Gaza’s future Mr. Hadi reaffirmed in a press statement the UN’s continued support, stating: “The UN stands ready to support the Palestinian people both on humanitarian assistance and a future recovery and reconstruction process.”“Once conditions are in place, temporary shelters will be established, basic services restored, the economy kick-started, and individual and social rehabilitation begun while the longer-term recovery and reconstruction advances,” he added.A crucial element of Gaza’s recovery will be restoring the administrative authority of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the Strip.“The international community must make collective efforts to support a just and lasting peace,” said Mr. Hadi, emphasising that Gaza is an integral part of this effort based on UN resolutions and international law, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States., filtered_html

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A family in Gaza eats a meal in the midst of the rubble of their home.

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11 March 2025

Nine out of 10 Gazans unable to access safe drinking water: UNICEF

The situation has deteriorated further following Israel’s decision on Sunday to cut power to the enclave – in a bid to increase pressure on Hamas over hostage releases – disrupting vital desalination operations.Rosalia Bollen, a UNICEF official in Gaza, reported that 600,000 people who had regained access to drinking water in November 2024 are once again cut off. “It’s really vital for thousands of families and children to restore this connection,” she said.UN agencies estimate that 1.8 million people – over half of them children – urgently need water, sanitation and hygiene assistance.Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, the UN aid agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini expressed that “the situation is similar to the one which prevailed in October 2023.”West Bank displacementMr. Lazzarini highlighted the escalating crisis in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli security operations have led to the largest displacement of Palestinians since 1967.Around 40,000 people, many of them refugees, have been forced to flee their homes, with entire communities emptied due to intensified military activities.The Commissioner-General condemned what he called the systematic dismantling of UNRWA’s operations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem following Israel’s ban on agency operations, pointing to the “increased pressure from the municipality to vacate its premises and halt service provision,” with international staff denied entry or expelled.Mr. Lazzarini warned that efforts to undermine UNRWA – through funding suspensions, legislative restrictions and disinformation campaigns – pose a severe threat to regional stability.Calls for unhindered accessHumanitarian Coordinator Muhannad Hadi called for the entry of lifesaving aid to resume “immediately,” as any further delays will affect the progress achieved during the ceasefire.Meanwhile, Mr. Lazzarini further emphasised the importance of a political framework to prevent the crisis from escalating.He referenced ongoing diplomatic efforts, including proposals led by Saudi Arabia, the European Union and the League of Arab States, to implement a two-State solution and transition humanitarian services to Palestinian-led institutions.“When there is political will, humanitarian assistance can be unhindered and uninterrupted,” he underscored.Funding crisisAs the crisis unfolds, UNRWA is also grappling with severe financial constraints, exacerbated by funding suspensions from key donors.Mr. Lazzarini urged Member States to sustain UNRWA’s operations until a clear political solution emerges, warning that cutting support prematurely will only intensify calls for Palestinians’ return or resettlement.“The rights of Palestinian refugees exist independently of the agency,” he said, underscoring that ending UNRWA’s mandate without a viable alternative will only deepen civilian suffering. , filtered_html

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27 February 2025

Success for polio campaign in Gaza while West Bank tensions continue

UN humanitarians reported that aid workers in Gaza supporting local health authorities have now managed to vaccinate nearly 550,000 children under 10 – nearly all those it aimed to reach.The campaign has been extended until Wednesday to ensure full coverage, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at the regular news briefing in New York, citing UN humanitarian coordinators. As of Monday, the third day of the campaign, some 548,000 children had been inoculated, or 93 per cent of the target population.Aid efforts continueHumanitarian partners have been working to expand aid distribution since the fragile ceasefire began last month. According to latest news reports, the Israeli Government is seeking to extend the first stage of the agreement, threatening to resume fighting without progress in talks this week on phase two. The World Food Programme (WFP) has delivered over 30,000 metric tonnes of food, with more than 60 community kitchens across the Strip distributing nearly 10 million meals.Similarly, the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) has provided food parcels to two million people and flour to 1.3 million.The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also delivered animal feed in northern Gaza for the first time since the ceasefire, benefiting livestock-owning families in Gaza City and Deir al Balah.Efforts are also underway by partner organizations to repair and reopen schools that had been used as shelters for displaced families in Rafah, Khan Younis, and Deir al Balah.Biting cold claims livesDespite the steady flow of aid, children in Gaza continue to suffer.The head of Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday that six children died from the severe cold in recent days, bringing the total number of cold-related child deaths to 15, Mr. Dujarric said.Ongoing military operations in the West BankIn the West Bank the security situation remains volatile, with Israeli military operations in the north leading to further casualties, mass displacement and destruction of essential infrastructure.A two-day military operation in Qabatiya, Jenin governorate, ended Monday, Mr. Dujarric said.The operation involved bulldozers and exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Palestinians, as well as detentions, disruption to electricity lines, water lines, and school closures.“We once again warn that lethal, war-like tactics are being applied, raising concerns over use of force that exceeds law enforcement standards,” Mr. Dujarric emphasised., filtered_html

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27 February 2025

West Bank security situation remains alarming, warn UN aid agencies

Weeks of deadly Israeli military raids in the occupied West Bank have turned Palestinian communities into “battlefields” and left 40,000 people homeless, UN humanitarians warned.The violence has seen exchanges of fire between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants – and the use of bulldozers in refugee camps for the first time in 20 years which have destroyed public services, including vital electricity and water networks.Israel’s defence minister said on Sunday forces could remain in the camps for the “coming year”. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN’s Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, said that “fear, uncertainty, and grief once again prevail. Affected camps lie in ruins…Destruction of public infrastructure, bulldozing roads and access restrictions are common place." More than 50 people including children have been killed since Israeli military raids started five weeks ago, the UN agency said, warning that the West Bank “is becoming a battlefield” where ordinary Palestinians are the first and worst to suffer.Lethal forceMeanwhile, UN aid coordinating office, OCHA, also condemned the “lethal, war-like tactics” being employed by the Israeli military against Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank.OCHA confirmed further civilian casualties and mass displacement after a two-day Israeli military raid in the northern town of Qabatiya in Jenin governorate that ended on Monday.Palestinians were detained in the operation, OCHA noted, before reiterating deep concerns about the use of excessive force against civilians and the additional humanitarian needs among people left homeless.Responding to needsUN partners on the ground are doing their utmost to help people uprooted by the violence despite growing “physical and administrative” challenges, OCHA said.According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), it reached 190,000 people in January with cash assistance and has provided one-off cash assistance to more than 5,000 displaced people from the Jenin refugee camp.Gaza cold kills six childrenIn neighbouring Gaza, UN and its humanitarian partners have continued to scale up food security and livelihood support, while six children reportedly died from the cold.Needs remain enormous amid desperate humanitarian conditions caused by 15 months of constant Israeli bombardment sparked by Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel that left 1,200 dead and some 250 people captured as hostages.Citing the Gazan health authorities, OCHA said that six children from the Gaza Strip have died in recent days because to the severe cold, bringing to 15 the total number of youngsters killed by the winter conditions.Meanwhile, more than 800 trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Tuesday alone, OCHA said. Since the start of the ceasefire on 19 January, WFP has brought more than 30,000 tonnes of food into Gaza. More than 60 kitchens supported by the UN agency across the Strip have handed out nearly 10 million meals, including in North Gaza and Rafah in the south.The biggest aid provider in Gaza, UNRWA, has reached nearly 1.3 million people with flour and reached about two million people with food parcels since the start of the ceasefire.The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also reported that it has delivered animal feed to northern Gaza for the first time since the escalation of hostilities.The aid delivery last week has helped 146 families with livestock in Gaza City alongside another 980 in Deir al Balah.Between the start of the ceasefire and 21 February, FAO distributed more than 570 metric tonnes of animal feed across the Gaza Strip to some 2,300 families with livestock.OCHA noted in addition that aid partners working in education have identified additional schools in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir al Balah that were used as shelters for displaced people. “These schools will be assessed and repaired to prepare for their reopening,” it said. , filtered_html

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20 February 2025

UNRWA: Young Palestinians in East Jerusalem shut out of UNRWA training centre

The UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, condemned efforts by Israeli officials on Tuesday to shut down an UNRWA-run training centre in occupied East Jerusalem.Agency chief Philippe Lazzarini said that Israeli forces and personnel from the Jerusalem local authority “forcefully entered” the Kalandia Training Centre and ordered its immediate evacuation.“At least 350 students and 30 staff were present and impacted. Tear gas and sound bombs were fired,” Mr. Lazzarini explained.The development comes after a ban on UNRWA activities in Israel came into effect, in line with laws passed in October by the Israeli Knesset.At least 350 students and 30 staff were present in the centre at the time.Israeli police accompanied by municipal staff, also visited several other UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem, demanding their closure.The incidents have disrupted learning for approximately 250 students attending three schools, alongside the trainees now locked out of the training centre.In an interview with UN News’s Abdelmonem Makki on Wednesday Roland Friedrich, Director of UNRWA affairs in the West Bank, spoke at length about the actions and explained that the agency is committed to continuing its services, including education for 50,000 children, healthcare for half a million patients in the occupied West Bank, and emergency education programmes for 200,000 children in Gaza.This interview has been edited for clarity and length.UN News: Israeli forces and personnel from the Jerusalem municipality entered several UNRWA’s educational facilities in East Jerusalem on Tuesday. Could you share with us what happened exactly?Roland Friedrich: Israeli security forces, accompanied by municipality personnel, forcefully entered our education training center in Kalandia and ordered it to be closed. That vocational training center provides training to more than 350 vulnerable Palestinian youth from all over the West Bank, and it is located in what Israel considers the sovereign territory of the state of Israel. According to international law, it's occupied territory.After about three hours of discussions, Israeli security forces and the municipal representatives left, and we were able to resume education, but this was the first time that an educational installation in East Jerusalem was forcefully entered by Israeli security forces.And at the same time, in the morning, employees of the Israeli government paid visits to three schools in the occupied East Jerusalem and threatened to close them, asking for additional information, which was another breach of privileges and immunities of UNRWA. UN News: What was the stated reason for these school closures by Israel?Roland Friedrich: On the 30th of January the [Knesset legislation banning UNRWA] entered fully into effect. There are six schools, three inside the barrier, three in Shu'fat Camp refugee camp on the Palestinian side of the barrier.There are two health centers, one in the old city of Jerusalem and the other one in Shu'fat Camp refugee camp, the rest of vocational training center in Kalandia. And finally, we have our headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah. When the bills came into effect, we continued to deliver our services to the patients and to the children. We also do the garbage collection in the Shu'fat refugee camp, and these basic services continue for the time being.Regarding our headquarters in East Jerusalem, we are asking staff not to work from there. Over the past 12 months, we've seen repeated aggressions, attacks, intimidation, vandalization, and after these bills were formally adopted, we saw another uptick in incidents.UN News: What does this mean for Israel's international obligations?Roland Friedrich: These laws are in contravention of Israel's obligations as a Member State. The charter has a very clear provision on what is expected. Israel is party to the general Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, which foresees, of course, the obligation to protect UN facilities and to ensure that privileges and immunities are respected.This is extremely problematic both in terms of what international law has to say but also concerning our work on the ground. Another impact of those laws has been on the impediment of coordinating directly with Israeli duty bearers and particularly the Israeli military. That means at the moment, we can't speak to them, we can't deconflict, we can't raise issues concerning our installations and we can't address access issues directly anymore.It's even more problematic because now we have an unprecedented situation of forcible displacement in the northern West Bank, with more than 40,000 people displaced because of heavily militarized Israeli security forces operations since the 21st of January. And that has never happened in the history of the West Bank since Israel's occupation that started in 1967.UN News: What's the next step for the agency in response to these measures, given the fact that the agency has a clear mandate from the UN General Assembly?Roland Friedrich: We have a very clear mandate, and we are committed to continue delivering our services as effectively as possible, as long as possible and wherever possible, because we have an obligation here.To give you an example, in the West Bank, we run 96 schools with more than 50,000 students. Effectively this year, the number of students registering to go to UNRWA schools in the West Bank has increased because of the socioeconomic deterioration of the situation on the ground.We provide primary health care to half a million patients. We run 43 health centers and a hospital on the ground. We provide cash assistance and relief services to more than 200,000 vulnerable Palestinians, some of that in close coordination with other UN agencies.We have a mandate to continue doing this, and we're committed to doing that as long as we can.UN News: UNRWA emphasizes the need to preserve children's access to education and protect UN facilities. Does the agency have any alternative plans to enable those children to continue their education if this such incident happens again?Roland Friedrich: I think we have to differentiate between East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank because the situation there is slightly different in issues concerning the schools that we run and the places where we run these schools.There are very, very little alternatives, if any. And there's certainly no alternative to the Kalandia Training Centre where we provide this vocational training to the 350 trainees who come from the West Bank. That's the training facility that UNRWA has been running since the 1950s, and there is no alternative.When we look at the situation in the West Bank because of the ongoing Israeli operation, it has a very direct impact on children's ability to access education because of the displacement in the northern West Bank and because of the ongoing operations.There are 13 schools in four refugee camps that have not operated since 21 January, which means roughly 5,000 children who do not have access to education now. We try to provide alternative means of learning, but clearly this is an unprecedented situation of displacement.It's not easy to reach all the children and their families. They are, of course, dislocated and traumatized, and we're very concerned that there is no clear end to this operation that would allow us to reopen the schools and get the children where they belong. And this would be in a safe space, in our school.UN News: Beyond the immediate impact on the children and staff involved in such incidents, what are the broader implications on the education and long-term prospects for children in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.Roland Friedrich: In the OPT [Occupied Palestinian Territory] generally, UNRWA has long been the second biggest provider of education, and we do that in line with UN values, in line with UNESCO's standards. We have a very robust human rights tolerance-oriented curriculum, probably unique in the region.In the Gaza Strip, for instance, we used to provide education for more than 300,000 kids. Now, there are 600,000 children that have been out of education for more than a year and a half, deeply traumatized, living in misery.And everybody should have an interest to make sure that these children have access to education, quality education as quickly as possible. We're committed to doing this to the extent possible. We have started the emergency education program in Gaza, and we're rolling it out now, with more than 200,000 kids signed up for these emergency education programs in Gaza going forward.When it comes to the West Bank, we have 50,000 children in our schools, mostly from poor backgrounds, living in areas of conflict, in areas where there's a lot of poverty, particularly the refugee camps. And we are continuing to provide those services, and we'll do that as long as possible. , filtered_html

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20 February 2025

UN to continue Gaza vaccination campaign against polio

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday that the mass polio vaccination campaign in Gaza which began successfully last year, will continue in the coming days.WHO said in a news release that more than 591,000 children under 10 years old will receive the vaccine to protect them from the highly infectious disease, beginning this weekend for an anticipated period of five days.The campaign follows the recent detection of poliovirus in wastewater samples in the shattered enclave which signal that the infection is still circulating in the enclave and putting children at risk.“Individuals with low or no immunity provide the virus an opportunity to continue spreading and potentially cause disease,” WHO said.The UN health agency added that dreadful sanitary conditions in Gaza which include overcrowding in shelters and severely damaged water and sewer networks had created “ideal conditions for further spread of poliovirus”.The mass return of people to north and south Gaza during the ongoing ceasefire is also likely to increase the spread of polio, WHO warned.The campaign will be led by the Palestinian Ministry of Health with support from WHO, UN children’s agency UNICEF, the Palestine refugee relief agency (UNRWA) and other partners.The agency stressed that polio vaccines are safe and there is no maximum number of times a child should be vaccinated, with each dose providing extra protection. An additional round of shots is planned for April.Water trickling back onlineHumanitarians in the enclave are working to increase the production and distribution of water supplies for both drinking and domestic use, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefing reporters in New York on Wednesday.There are now more than 1,780 operational water points across the strip – over 85 per cent of them being used to support water trucking activities by our partners. Aid partners are also training and deploying mobile teams and volunteers at aid distribution points to ensure that vulnerable groups – including people with disabilities – have safe and dignified access.“More than 100 such teams are operating at nearly 70 aid distribution points throughout Gaza,” he said.Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said Israeli operations in northern areas continue, causing further destruction and displacement for Palestinian families living there. In Tulkarm refugee camp on Tuesday, humanitarian partners report that Israeli forces demolished at least five homes, and several others also slated by them for demolition. , filtered_html

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Press Release

10 March 2025

Palestinian suffering continues as disregard for international law grows

Precarious situation in Gaza:In Gaza, since the ceasefire agreement entered into effect on 19 January, Israeli military reportedly killed 58 Palestinians including ten children and three women, mostly in the vicinity of the Israeli imposed “no-go” zones including the Netzarim and Philadelphi corridors, as well as eastern Rafah, Khan Younis, and Beit Hanun. Many of those killed were reportedly attempting to check on their homes. Targeting Palestinians who are not actively participating in hostilities is a war crime regardless of the Israeli-imposed movement restrictions.For the fifth consecutive day, Israel has blocked humanitarian aid as well as all other goods and supplies, including fuel, from entering Gaza, causing prices to soar and anxiety to spread over the possible return to bombardment and starvation. This is coinciding with the start of the Holy month of Ramadan, further heightening the stress of Palestinian families, most of whom remain displaced. Lack of adequate shelter, warm clothing and healthcare services led to the death of at least eight babies in the past two weeks from the cold, three of whom were reportedly newborns.As the occupying power, Israel has a legal obligation to ensure the provision of the necessities of life for Palestinians living under its control. This includes food, clean water, shelter, and adequate healthcare. Any denial of the entry of the necessities of life for civilians may amount to collective punishment. The use of hunger and starvation as a weapon of war is a war crime.Additionally, efforts to remove tons of rubble and waste are greatly hampered by the lack of the required heavy equipment and fuel. Palestinian families and civil defense workers continue to extract bodies from under the rubble — at least 808 bodies recovered since the ceasefire started. Large-scale West Bank operation continues:In the West Bank, an Israeli security operation continues to ravage northern communities, killed dozens, forcibly displaced about 40,000 Palestinians, emptying entire refugee camps. The Israeli Minister of Defense told media that Israeli security forces will remain in parts of the emptied territory for a year and will prevent residents from returning. The operation started on 21 January and preliminarily targeted Jenin, then extended to include Tubas and Tulkarem governorates. So far, Israeli security forces have killed 54 Palestinians in the course of this operation, including eight children, and two women. Outside these governorates, during the past two weeks, Israeli security forces killed five other Palestinians including a 12-year-old boy shot in the back in Hebron.The killings increasingly demonstrate an alarming disregard for Palestinian lives with high prevalence of unlawful killings. As there are no hostilities in the West Bank, the international human rights law standards on the use of force in law enforcement operations apply. Instead, Israel now routinely resorts to using tactics and weapons developed for war fighting, including the deployment of airstrikes and tanks.Alarming incidents reported over recent weeks include Israeli security forces opening fire at a house in Jenin, killing a two-day old baby girl inside; shooting and killing an eight-month pregnant woman trying to flee Nur Shams refugee camp in which an operation by the Israeli security forces was ongoing; the killing of a 13-year-old girl in the courtyard of her house also in Jenin; and the killing of a ten-year old boy while standing in front of a building in Tulkarem. Since January, three members of Israeli security forces were killed by Palestinian armed men in the West Bank or inside Israel. A 17-year-old Israeli girl succumbed to injuries sustained when a Palestinian man rammed a car into a crowd of Israelis in north Israel last week. The attacker was subsequently shot and killed.Coinciding with the operation, restrictions of movement have also dramatically increased, strangling communities and preventing thousands of students and workers in northern areas from reaching their schools and workplaces.According to Israeli media, Israeli security forces are planning to limit the number of worshippers from the West Bank allowed to access Al Aqsa Compound in East Jerusalem for Friday prayers during Ramadan to only 10,000. This is a significant drop from the tens of thousands who gathered for Friday prayers in Al Aqsa Mosque in previous years. Ahead of the first Ramadan Friday prayer tomorrow, Israeli media is reporting movement restrictions around East Jerusalem, including the deployment of thousands of security officers and the closing of key roads, which is likely to have a severe impact on freedom of movement. Steps to consolidate annexation and forced transfer:Of particular concern is the mass forced displacement in large swaths of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In Gaza, Israeli forces’ continued presence, and the constant killing of Palestinians around the Israeli-designated no-go zones is effectively preventing Palestinian residents from returning to their homes in these areas.In the newly emptied parts of the West Bank, houses are being reportedly destroyed. At least 120 buildings in Jenin and 41 in Tulkarem have been demolished so far, apparently to make space for the creation of wide streets that would allow easier passage to military forces. Israeli security forces also announced that they will imminently demolish 16 houses in Nur Shams refugee camp. Signs are being erected that give freshly bulldozed streets and junctions Hebrew names in Jenin and Tulkarem.In parallel, increasing numbers of Palestinian herding and farming communities are being displaced from Area C and other fertile areas of the West Bank, forced to leave by state and settler violence, restricted access to land and pastures, and discriminatory policies.These steps are being taken against a backdrop of a barrage of statements from Israeli officials and lawmakers promoting further consolidation, under Israeli law, of the annexation of large parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Statements also call for the forcible transfer and deportation of Palestinians in Gaza.Earlier this week, the Ministerial Committee at the Israeli Knesset preliminarily approved a bill to extend Israeli law, jurisdiction and administration to settlements around Jerusalem, which would further cement annexation. This threatens to further fragment the Occupied West Bank, further isolate the Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem, and complicate any future efforts to fulfil Palestinians’ right to self-determination. Israeli media quoted lawmakers who explained the bill is a significant step towards extending Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank. Measures to forcibly displace Palestinians and consolidate the annexation of their land fly in the face of Israel’s obligations under international law, including its duty to end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to immediately evacuate all settlements as affirmed by the International Court of Justice. These measures must stop and be reversed, and Palestinians across the occupied territory must be allowed to return to their homes in safety and in dignity.Accountability must be prioritised for violations committed by all duty bearers, including Israel, Palestinian armed groups, and the Palestinian Authority as an essential step towards a just and sustainable peace., filtered_html

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Press Release

18 February 2025

Statement of the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Muhannad Hadi

The Assessment found that housing requires the largest share of recovery needs, with an estimated $15.2 billion, accounting for around 30% of total recovery needs. The health sector ($6.9 billion), commerce and industry ($6.9 billion), and agriculture and food systems ($4.2 billion), also require a large share of recovery needs due to their extensive damage and socioeconomic importance. The education sector requires $3.8 billion for recovery and reconstruction. Over the next three years, an estimated $20 billion will be required to stabilize essential services and lay the groundwork for long-term recovery.“This opportunity must lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages. Palestinians will need joint action to address the immense recovery and reconstruction challenges ahead. A sustainable recovery process must restore hope, dignity, and livelihoods for the two million people in Gaza. Achieving this requires unwavering commitment from the global community, a broad coalition of donors, and innovative financing,” said Muhannad Hadi, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator.“The UN stands ready to support the Palestinian people both on humanitarian assistance and a future recovery and reconstruction process,” added Hadi.The Assessment covers damage, losses, and needs incurred from October 2023 to October 2024. Remote data sources include synthetic aperture radar, multi-spectral, high resolution optical and infrared satellite imagery, traditional and social media reporting. On-the-ground data sources include United Nations agencies; humanitarian partner organizations; and other sources.The Assessment states that recovery and reconstruction will require a substantial, years-long effort. Political and operational prerequisites for recovery at scale need to be met in Gaza. While the humanitarian response will remain the primary focus for the foreseeable future, in parallel, some early recovery work is already underway by the United Nations and humanitarian partners.“Once conditions are in place, temporary shelters will be established, basic services restored, the economy kick-started, and individual and social rehabilitation begun while the longer-term recovery and reconstruction advances,” said Mr. Hadi.Central to achieving these objectives is strengthening the institutions of the Palestinian Authority (PA), while rejecting any actions that undermine its viability. International support is critical to boost the capacities of the Palestinian Government and to ensure it resumes its full responsibilities in Gaza. Political, institutional, and economic reforms will be needed as well, but they must be achievable and properly financed.The international community must make collective efforts to support a just and lasting peace that leads to the realization of the two-State solution – Israel and Palestine, of which Gaza is an integral part, living side-by-side in peace and security, on the basis of United Nations resolutions and international law, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States. The United Nations will continue to support all efforts towards that goal., filtered_html

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Press Release

17 February 2025

Mass displacement of Palestinians from northern West Bank - source of growing concern

Unlawful killingsIsraeli security forces have so far killed 44 Palestinians, many of them unarmed and not posing an imminent threat to life or of serious injury, since the start of the operation on 21 January which has affected Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas governorates, and four refugee camps in these areas. Among those killed are five children and two women. One of the women killed, 23-year-old Sundus Shalabi, was fleeing Nour Shams refugee camp with her husband on 9 February when Israeli security forces shot at their car, critically injuring her husband. When she left the car in search of safety, she was shot and killed with her unborn child. According to Israeli media reports, an investigation by the Israeli military preliminarily confirmed that Sundus and her husband, Yazan, were unarmed and posed no threat to life.In Tulkarem city, a 10-year-boy, Saddam Hussein Rajab, was shot in the chest by Israeli security forces and succumbed to his injuries on 7 February. Circulating video evidence showed the moment he was shot while simply standing in front of a building. This is part of an expanding pattern of Israel’s unlawful use of force in the West Bank where there are no active hostilities, and a continuously increasing number of apparently unlawful killings documented by the UN Human Rights Office.Mass displacementThe operation is also raising concerns about levels of mass displacement unprecedented in the Occupied West Bank for decades. According to UNRWA, the Israeli operation has so far displaced nearly 40,000 Palestinians.The UN Human Rights Office received daily reports from displaced residents describing a pattern where they are led out of their homes by Israeli security forces and drones under the threat of violence. They are then forced out of their towns with snipers positioned on rooftops around them and houses in their neighbourhoods used as posts by Israeli security forces. Aseel, a 29-year-old mother of three, has been displaced three times so far. First from her home in Jenin by Palestinian security forces last December when they were engaged in an operation in Jenin, then by Israeli security forces when she attempted to return in January. Her house was burnt down shortly afterwards according to photos shared by some of her neighbours. After fleeing to Tulkarem to stay with her family, Israeli security forces again forced her out end of January when the ongoing Israeli operation extended from Jenin to neighbouring refugee camps.Another young woman said that she fled her home in Tulkarem in panic—barefoot and carrying her one- and four-year-old children—when she heard Israeli security forces threatening via loudspeakers on jeeps and drones that anyone who did not immediately leave would be shot. She pleaded with officers to go back inside for her youngest’s heart medications or to at least put on shoes.“Leave this place and forget the camp. You will never return. Move now before we destroy it completely,” was the answer she reported in her testimony.Other eyewitness testimonies also recounted similar statements by Israeli security force members who reportedly told displaced residents to “forget” and “say goodbye” to their homes, stressing they would not be allowed to return. One resident reported being told to “go to Jordan.”Photos received from Jenin refugee camp on Thursday show freshly bulldozed roads with new signs apparently giving several streets Hebrew names. This is happening while statements by Israeli officials persist in communicating open plans to annex the region, empty it of Palestinians, and expel them out of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.In this regard, we reiterate that any forcible transfer in or deportation of people from occupied territory is strictly prohibited and amounts to a crime under international law.Legal obligationsDisplaced Palestinians must be allowed to return to their homes. The killing of each and every Palestinian must be promptly, effectively, and transparently investigated, and perpetrators of unlawful killings must be held to account. Military commanders and other superiors may be held responsible for the crimes committed by their subordinates if they fail to take all necessary and reasonable measures to prevent or punish unlawful killings.Furthermore, Israel must comply with its other obligations under international law, which include ending its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible and evacuating all West Bank settlements immediately. In the meantime, as the occupying power, Israel must ensure the protection of Palestinians, the provision of basic services and needs, and the respect of Palestinians’ full range of human rights., filtered_html

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Press Release

06 February 2025

Steering Committee Meeting Approves 2025 Annual Work Plan for Sawasya III Joint Programme

Chaired by Ms. Sarah Poole, UNDP/PAPP Special Representative of the Administrator, on behalf of the Resident Coordinator Mr. Muhannad Hadi - chair of the Joint UNDP/UN Women/UNICEF Programme’s Steering Committee, and H.E Judge Mohammed Abdghani Aliwawi, Chief of Justice, and co-chair of the meeting, which brought together key Palestinian officials, national and development partners.
Distinguished attendees included H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Supreme Judge, H.E. Counselor Sharhabil Al-Zaeem, Minister of Justice; H.E. Akram Al-Khatib, Attorney General and H.E. Mr. Taha Al-Irani, Deputy Minister of Social Development.
The 2025 Annual Work Plan reaffirms the programme’s commitment to addressing Palestinians' growing needs and advancing equal access to justice, human rights, and gender equality, particularly in light of the current challenges.
Representing key donors, Mr. Jaco Beerends, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation at the Netherlands Representative Office in Ramallah, joined the discussions, alongside representatives of the Governments of Sweden and Canada, Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, and the European Union.
The meeting was also attended by the representatives of the UNDP, UN Women, and UNICEF.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Sarah Poole, UNDP/PAPP Special Representative of the Administrator, addressed the significant challenges facing the rule of law and justice sector in Palestine, with a particular focus on Gaza. "Transitioning to the impact on the rule of law, the justice sector in Palestine faces significant difficulties, particularly in Gaza. In the current context, access to justice is needed more than ever, particularly for women and children. Palestinians rely on services provided through your respective institutions, which have been supported through Sawasya over the last decade, such as policing, functioning courts, and critical services including legal aid.”
Ms. Poole also expressed her gratitude for the unwavering support from development partners and to national institutions and CSO partners who are delivering critical services to the Palestinians under these circumstances.”
Building on the successes of previous phases, Sawasya III, a five-year programme, is designed to enhance equal access to justice for all Palestinians, particularly particularly during and after the end of the war. The programme aims to develop a comprehensive, preventive, and responsive justice system that upholds human rights and gender equality principles, with a particular focus on adopting innovative digital solutions.
In his remarks, H.E. Judge Mohammed Abdghani Aliwawi emphasized: “We believe that justice must be accessible to all, especially in these difficult times when Palestinians face the most heinous forms of oppression. Therefore, we will continue to make every possible effort to provide a judicial environment that safeguards human rights and facilitates citizens' access to justice services through innovative digital solutions, particularly for women and children, especially in the Gaza Strip”.
In the next phase, the Sawasya III joint programme will intensify its efforts, particularly in the Gaza Strip and the most affected areas in the West Bank, in line with government directives, to improve access to legal, psychological and social services for marginalized groups, especially women and children. Additionally, it will focus on enhancing the quality of legal education.
The Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Jaco Beerends said: “In 2025, we look forward to working with you to strengthen legal aid systems and improve access to legal aid services for the Palestinian people. It is essential that all Palestinians have equal access to justice; regardless of their age; gender; or socioeconomic status. It is therefore encouraging to see that through the Sawasya programme, tens of thousands of Palestinians access legal aid services every year – in part due to the excellent partnership with civil society organizations and the institutions represented in the room today.”
By endorsing the 2025 Annual Work Plan, Sawasya III reaffirms its commitment to ensuring equal access to justice for all Palestinians, with a particular emphasis on integrating innovative digital solutions and reinforcing international standards. Future efforts will seek to create a lasting impact in the justice sector, addressing the needs of Palestinian society and advancing human rights at all levels. , filtered_html

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Press Release

29 January 2025

Accountability and human rights- basis of just peace in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

On the move in GazaWith the return of possibly hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to northern Gaza, the UN Human Rights Office reaffirms the rights of Palestinians to safety, protection, and dignity on their way back to what is left of their homes.The journey is difficult, with many unable to afford transportation and forced to walk long distances with unreliable telecommunication networks and no available toilets. This is particularly hard for the most vulnerable groups and the families who support them, including children, pregnant women, older people, and people with disabilities forced to make the journey without adequate assistance. Reports raise concern about an increasing number of children being separated from their families while on the move. As the occupying power, Israel has the obligation to ensure the provision of shelter, food and medical care and to restore and maintain public order and normal civil life for the Palestinian people. Israel is also prohibited from subjecting Palestinians to deportation outside the Occupied Palestinian Territory or forcible transfer within it. Killings continue around “buffer zones”The continued killings of Palestinians since the beginning of the ceasefire in and around vaguely defined and poorly communicated “buffer zones” in Gaza, particularly in the vicinity of the Netzarim and Philadelphi corridors and along the eastern barrier fence, is cause for alarm. As of 27 January, the Israeli military reportedly killed at least 14 Palestinians, including 2 boys and 1 girl, mostly around these so-called “buffer zones” since the onset of the ceasefire on 19 January. Among those killed are two Palestinian brothers, including a boy, who were killed while reportedly checking their home in Rafah outside of such a zone.The Israeli military remains bound by international humanitarian law’s principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions, as well as the relevant human rights rules on use of force applicable to law enforcement. As a matter of urgency, it must take immediate steps to ensure its rules of engagement prevent further unlawful civilian deaths.Growing violence in the West BankAccountability and adherence to international law are also urgently needed in the West Bank, where a large-scale operation is unfolding with devastating consequences for Palestinians, both in terms of violence and displacement. Since 19 January, Israeli security forces killed 20 Palestinians including a 16-year-old boy in East Jerusalem on Monday. Deadly operation in JeninAn Israeli operation has continued in Jenin since 21 January with deadly consequences and was extended this week to Tulkarem. Israeli security forces have so far killed at least 18 Palestinians in this operation, most of whom are reportedly unarmed.This includes a two-year-old girl who was shot dead in her home by Israeli security forces on Saturday. After weeks of siege and use of force by both the Israeli and Palestinian security forces, 3,000 families from the Jenin Refugee Camp have been forced to flee – about 80 percent of total Camp residents. The remaining families are living in grave danger with no access to water, electricity, and other basic services. Videos circulating on the internet and reported by the media show evidence of Israeli security forces targeting Palestinians clearly posing no threat to life or limb. The use of tactics and weapons developed for war such as airstrikes in the West Bank where there are no active hostilities violates the international human rights law standards applicable to law enforcement. On Monday afternoon, the Israeli military expanded its operations to Tulkarem and its two refugee camps, where further destruction of roads and infrastructure is reportedly ongoing. According to information gathered by the UN Human Rights Office, several Palestinian families were already forced to leave their homes by the Israeli military for the duration of the operation, despite the fact they have nowhere to go in the middle of the winter.Raids and movement restrictions continue In addition, Israeli security forces in recent days have continued their routine raids of Palestinian communities across the West Bank including in Hebron, Nablus, and Bethlehem. Houses of Palestinian prisoners released as part of the ceasefire deal were also raided to prevent any “display of joy.” Suffocating restrictions on Palestinians’ freedom of movement across the West Bank persisted for the tenth consecutive day today, practically tearing communities apart and largely paralysing daily life. Human rights central to the way forwardThe continued implementation of the ceasefire deal in Gaza provides hope that an end to the horrors of the past 15 months is in sight. Israel and Palestinian armed groups must do everything in their power to make sure the ceasefire is sustainable so that the massive protection and humanitarian needs of the civilian population in Gaza can be addressed, and the process of a human rights-based recovery and reconstruction can commence. A vital prerequisite for this goal is to ensure strict adherence to international law in this critical time. The international community must also prioritize accountability for the crimes under international law committed over the past 15 months to facilitate redress and justice for victims. To prevent recurrence, it is essential that the root causes of the conflict are addressed based on international law, in particular human rights. This includes ending Israel’s unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and ensuring accountability as the basis of just and lasting peace that fulfills the rights of Palestinians and Israelis. , filtered_html

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