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03 March 2025
‘This is our land’ – Building Gaza’s future from the wreckage of war
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28 February 2025
Despite challenges, UNRWA says ‘unparalleled progress’ made during ceasefire
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27 February 2025
Success for polio campaign in Gaza while West Bank tensions continue
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The Sustainable Development Goals 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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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
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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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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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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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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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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18 February 2025
Humanitarians underscore need for urgent and sustained support in Gaza
As the UN and partners continue to deliver life-saving assistance across the Gaza Strip, the scale of needs remains overwhelming, requiring urgent and sustained support, UN aid coordination office OCHA said on Monday. OCHA cited Gaza’s Ministry of Health which stressed that oxygen supplies are critically needed to keep emergency, surgical and intensive care services running at hospitals, including Al Shifa and Al Rantisi hospitals in Gaza City. “Health partners are engaging with the authorities to bring in generators, spare parts and equipment required to produce oxygen locally in Gaza,” the agency said. Shelter and educationOver the weekend, humanitarian partners working in the shelter sector distributed tarpaulins to more than 11,000 families in the north. In Khan Younis, some 450 families are receiving sealing-off kits to create short-term shelters, kitchen sets and hygiene kits at the displacement site of Al Mawasi. Educational activities also continue to expand, and more than 250,000 children have enrolled in distance learning programmes run by the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA.Some 95 per cent of school buildings across Gaza were damaged over the past 15 months of hostilities, according to UN partners working in the education sector. Students are currently attending classes in makeshift tents and open spaces, amid winter temperatures. West Bank hostilitiesOCHA also reported on the situation in the West Bank, where casualties continue to be reported due to the ongoing operations by Israeli forces in Tulkarm and Jenin. “These are the most extensive Israeli operations in the West Bank in two decades, causing high casualties and significant displacement, especially in refugee camps,” the agency noted.Critical infrastructure has also been severely damaged, driving humanitarian needs even higher.OCHA once again warned that the use of lethal, war-like tactics during these operations raises concerns over the use of force that exceeds law enforcement standards. Settler attacks against Palestinians and their properties also continue to be reported across the West Bank. Israeli settlers attacked residents in several villages in Nablus governorate over the weekend – in one instance, setting a house on fire. Humanitarians are mobilizing resources to support affected communities, OCHA said.Averting UNRWA collapseThe head of UNRWA warned on Monday that if the agency collapses it will create a vacuum in the occupied Palestinian territory and send shockwaves through neighbouring countries.Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini was speaking in Cairo at the Fourth Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.He said Israeli legislation targeting UNRWA’s operations is now being implemented.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.Threat to peace and stability Mr. Lazzarini warned against allowing UNRWA to “implode” due to the Knesset legislation and the suspension of funding by key donors. “An environment in which children are deprived of education, and people lack access to basic services, is fertile ground for exploitation and extremism” he said. “This is a threat to peace and stability in the region and beyond.”He said that alternatively, UNRWA could progressively conclude its mandate within the framework of a political process like that championed by the Global Alliance.“The agency would gradually transition its public-like services to empowered and prepared Palestinian institutions. This is the future for which we are preparing,” he said. , filtered_html
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17 February 2025
UN rights office condemns continuing Israeli military operation in West Bank
The UN human rights office, OHCHR, condemned the intensifying Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank, warning that nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been displaced already amid an “alarming wave” of violence and destruction.Since the start of the offensive on 21 January, Israeli forces have killed at least 44 Palestinians, including five children and two women, in Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas governorates, and four refugee camps in those areas, according to OHCHR.Many of those killed were unarmed and posed no imminent threat, said the UN rights office, calling the killings “part of an expanding pattern of Israel’s unlawful use of force in the West Bank where there are no active hostilities.”‘Unprecedented’ displacementOHCHR also highlighted an unprecedented scale of mass displacement not seen in decades in the occupied West Bank.It cited reports from displaced residents of a pattern where they were 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,” the office said.Testimonies collected by OHCHR describe Israeli forces threatening residents who were told they would never be allowed to return. One woman, who fled barefoot carrying her two young children, said she was denied permission to retrieve heart medication for her baby.In Jenin refugee camp, bulldozed roads were photographed with new street signs reportedly now written in Hebrew.“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,” OHCHR stated.Legal obligationsThe office stressed that displaced Palestinians must be allowed to return to their homes and called for immediate, transparent investigations into the killings.“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,” it stated.OHCHR also reiterated Israel’s obligations under international law, including 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,” the office said.Humanitarian updateMeanwhile in Gaza, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported on Friday it had reached more than 860,000 men, women and children with food parcels, hot meals, bread and cash assistance since the start of the fragile ceasefire.UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at a regular news briefing in New York that over 19,000 metric tonnes of WFP food have entered Gaza.The agency has also distributed nutrition packs to some 85,000 people, including children under five, and pregnant and breastfeeding women, and provided more than 90,000 people with cash assistance in the past two weeks.“Efforts are also underway to establish more food distribution points, especially in North Gaza, to reduce travel distances, transport costs and protection risks for families,” Mr. Dujarric said.Fuel deliveries, schools reopeningIn addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) distributed 100,000 litres of fuel to hospitals in Gaza City on Friday, having delivered about 5,000 litres of fuel to Al Awda Hospital, in North Gaza governorate the day before.In southern Gaza, education partners in Rafah are preparing for the reopening of at least a dozen schools as displaced families return to their home areas, Mr. Dujarric said.“As you know, schools across the Strip had been used as shelters for Palestinians displaced during 15 months of hostilities. In Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, partners are providing cleaning materials to restart learning activities,” he added., filtered_html
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Story
14 February 2025
‘No time to lose’ in Gaza, as ceasefire offers fragile respite
The UN is racing against time to expand humanitarian relief and prepare for the monumental task of rebuilding Gaza, as a fragile ceasefire holds but tensions loom over a potential resumption of fighting.The UN is racing against time to expand humanitarian relief and prepare for the monumental task of rebuilding Gaza, as a fragile ceasefire holds but tensions loom over a potential resumption of fighting.“There is no time to lose,” said the head of the office responsible for UN reconstruction efforts (UNOPS), Jorge Moreira da Silva, during a briefing in New York via videolink from the Middle East, following his visit to Gaza this week.The devastation he witnessed was stark: “By one estimate, 40 million tons of debris and rubble were generated by the conflict, which will take years to remove.”While the ceasefire has allowed for a scale-up in humanitarian operations, Mr. Moreira da Silva underscored that the pause in hostilities is far from enough.“I reiterate the call for a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages without delay,” he stressed. Fuel and life-saving servicesUNOPS, which plays a pivotal role in Gaza’s humanitarian logistics and in many other crises where the UN is providing relief across the world, has dramatically increased fuel deliveries since the ceasefire began.Currently, 1.2 million litres are being supplied daily to sustain critical services such as hospitals, telecommunications equipment and bakeries.Visiting the European Hospital in the main southern city of Khan Younis close to the Egyptian border, Mr. Moreira da Silva heard firsthand accounts from doctors working under unimaginable conditions.There have been “surgeries without anaesthetic, post-surgery infections due to lack of antibiotics, infants dying due to the lack of electricity powering the incubators” and urgent cancer surgeries postponed for over a year, he recounted, describing the extreme pressures on Gaza’s health system.Prior to the war, UNOPS had installed hybrid solar systems at the hospital to provide a sustainable energy supply. But the systems have now been rendered inoperable – another casualty of the conflict.“As we look to recovery and reconstruction, this is a reminder about the crucial need to invest in renewable energy,” he said.Clearing the rubbleBeyond fuel provision, UNOPS is engaged in crucial debris removal and mine action efforts to address the growing risk of unexploded ordnanceThe scale of the destruction poses a logistical and financial challenge likely to persist for years.“We are determined to stay and deliver for the people of Gaza,” Mr. Moreira da Silva said, emphasising that humanitarian access remains critical.“Rapid, unhindered, and safe passage for aid is non-negotiable,” he emphasised.Uncertain road aheadThe spectre of renewed violence and the end of the fragile ceasefire, casts a shadow over recovery plans.The leadership of Hamas said on Thursday that they would stick to the hostage release timetable as originally agreed, after earlier accusing Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire. “We need to focus all efforts on avoiding a return to war, which would be an absolute tragedy,” said Mr. Moreira da Silva.The stakes are high, not only for Gaza’s immediate humanitarian relief but also for any future reconstruction effort. , 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
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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Press Release
22 January 2025
Violence and restrictions in the Occupied West Bank coinciding with ceasefire implementation
Public statements by Israeli officials warning against celebrations by Palestinian families whose detained loved ones are being released coincided with calls by settlers for gatherings and attacks at locations where detainees are returning. Settler attacks followed, on 19 January, in several towns including Sinjil, Turmus’ayya, and Qalqilya, where scores of settlers torched Palestinians’ houses and vehicles, blocked roads, and threw stones. Six Palestinians were injured in Sinjil, including three children, aged between 14 and 16.Also yesterday, Israeli security forces raided several Palestinian towns in the West Bank. In Sebastia, Nablus, Israeli security forces shot in the chest and killed a 14-year-old Palestinian boy, reportedly unarmed, in the absence of confrontations or clashes. Public statements by Israeli military officials also raise concern about Israel’s plans to expand and increase operations in the Occupied West Bank.Israeli security forces also closed a number of checkpoints in Jericho, set up flying checkpoints in Tulkarm, and further increased searches and controls at checkpoints around Nablus and Tulkarm governorates. They additionally shutdown all entrances to Hebron, which has effectively cut off thousands of Palestinians from neighboring communities and largely prevented children from attending schools, and residents from reaching work. Thirteen new iron gates were reportedly installed at entrances of towns across the Occupied West Bank.Palestinian security forces detained several Palestinians, including journalists, covering the release of Palestinian detainees.While the ceasefire takes hold in Gaza, it is important to stress again that international law binds duty-bearers in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Israel has the obligation to dismantle settlements and evacuate all settlers from the Occupied West Bank and end its unlawful presence across the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible. In the meantime, Israel has an obligation as the occupying power to ensure the protection of Palestinians from all acts of violence.Furthermore, Israeli and Palestinian security forces must ensure Palestinians’ ability to exercise the full range of their human rights, including freedoms of expression, assembly and movement. They must also ensure their conduct complies with international human rights law, including strict adherence to the rules on the use of force applicable to law enforcement operations. This includes immediately putting an end to the growing practice of unlawful killings of Palestinians both through targeted killings and unnecessary or disproportionate use of force, and conducting thorough, effective and transparent investigations into all possible violations to hold perpetrators accountable., filtered_html
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