Alakbarov Briefs Security Council on Middle East Developments, Including the Situation in Gaza

Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said today’s meeting comes amid “profound” opportunity and “considerable” risk.

“In front of us, we see a potential turning point for Gaza, a genuine chance for a better future, he said. “We also see a continued unravelling in the occupied West Bank, and a region mired in tension.”

The announced second phase of United States President Donald J. Trump’s 20-point Comprehensive Plan marks “a critical step" in consolidating the ceasefire in Gaza, alongside the creation of the Board of Peace, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and the Office of the High Representative for Gaza.

‘Monumental’ task ahead

In Cairo, he said, he met with the new National Committee to discuss how the United Nations can best support the provision of critical public services, facilitate humanitarian aid and lay the groundwork for Gaza’s reconstruction.

“The task at hand is monumental,” he affirmed, requiring full coordination among all stakeholders, taking into account existing systems and capacities.

Ceasefire plan's second phase

While welcoming the return of the last hostage, Mr. Alakbarov stressed that implementation must advance “in good faith”, that demilitarization of the Gaza Strip is “an essential enabling condition”, and that Gazans themselves are ready to lead the way to a more stable future.

Yet, nearly the entire population requires humanitarian assistance, he said, stressing:  “I saw a little girl carrying heavy stones just to prevent her shelter from blowing away in the wind.”

In the occupied West Bank, he described “spiralling dynamics”, stressing that “negative trends are entrenched daily” amid “extensive” Israeli military operations, settlement-expansion, settler violence, demolitions and large-scale detentions. 

He also pointed to the “sharply” escalating pressure campaign against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

"Implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan is critical,” he argued. It will “require our firm and collective commitment”.  

The current moment marks “a genuine opportunity” to lay the foundations for a more stable and secure future for Palestinians and Israelis.

Gaza crisis remains dire

Despite a modest increase in humanitarian assistance, the situation in Gaza remains “dire”, with hundreds of thousands of families across the Strip still in urgent need, even as health services expand and more than 6,000 children under three receive routine vaccinations.

Food assistance now reaches at least 43 per cent of the population through daily bread rations and monthly flour distributions, according to UN agencies, while shelter and winter support have been delivered to thousands of families.

However, years of disrupted schooling have taken a heavy toll on children, with warnings that an entire generation at risk.

Child immunization campaign reaches 13,000

Humanitarian partners have so far vaccinated nearly 13,000 children across the Gaza Strip during the latest immunization campaign, against a target of 18,000, according to aid coordination office, OCHA.

Winter support efforts are also continuing, as further cold spells are expected.  Since Sunday, partners working on shelter have reached more than 4,000 families with tents, tarpaulins, mattresses, blankets and kitchen supplies.

OCHA stressed that emergency assistance alone is not enough, underscoring the need for more sustainable shelter solutions.

Here’s more on the humanitarian effort today from OCHA’s Olga Cherevko.