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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21 January 2025

Guterres urges support for the Middle East amid current ‘turbulent period’

With the Middle East undergoing “a period of profound transformation”, the international community must support efforts towards more justice, dignity, human rights and peace in the region, the UN Secretary-General told the Security Council on Monday. António Guterres addressed the Council’s first quarterly debate on the Middle East for the year, held against the backdrop of Sunday’s temporary ceasefire in Gaza, the end of hostilities in Lebanon sparked by the war, and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.“We have a responsibility to help make sure the people of the Middle East come out of this turbulent period with peace, dignity and a horizon of hope grounded in action,” he said, speaking fresh from a visit to Lebanon.‘Ray of hope’Mr. Guterres said that the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal “offer a ray of hope.” The first phase of the agreement went into effect on Sunday, with Hamas releasing three women hostages and Israel releasing 90 Palestinian prisoners.“While many challenges lie ahead, we should appreciate the long-overdue relief this moment provides for Palestinians in Gaza and the hostages reunited with their loved ones,” he said.Meanwhile, the UN is doing its part to ensure the rapid scale-up of humanitarian deliveries. More than 630 trucks of aid entered Gaza on Sunday, with at least 300 headed to the north.Fully implement the dealHe said the parties now must make good on their commitments and fully implement the deal and ensure that it leads to the release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.The Secretary-General pledged that the UN “will do all we can to advance these efforts – in particular, to scale up humanitarian aid across Gaza, fully aware of the significant obstacles, challenges and constraints that we still face.”Action on the groundThe ceasefire “must translate into at least four simultaneous actions on the ground”, he said.The first must be that UN entities – including UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, which he called “the backbone of our humanitarian response” - must be able to perform their functions without hindrance.“The UN must have rapid, safe and unimpeded access through all available channels and crossings to deliver food, water, medicine, fuel, shelter, and materials to repair infrastructure across Gaza, including the north,” he said. Other humanitarian organizations, including local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as the private sector, must also have unimpeded safe passage. Safe operating environmentHis second point underscored that scaling up the delivery of aid and essential services demands safe conditions and a conducive operating environment. Humanitarians also require the necessary technical, protective and communications equipment.“To do our work, the parties must coordinate with the UN system in a timely and effective manner. This also includes the restoration of public order and safety to prevent the looting of humanitarian supplies,” he said.Aid access, civilian protectionMr. Guterres stressed that people must be able to access life-saving aid, his third point. This includes medical evacuations for those who need it, and he urged countries to take in these patients. Sufficient commercial supplies must also be allowed to enter Gaza to meet the overwhelming needs of the population, he added.His final point highlighted that civilians must be protected, and those seeking to return to their communities must have safe passage.“Explosive ordnance must be removed. The recovery of human remains must be conducted with dignity and respect,” he said.‘Seize the opportunity’The Secretary-General urged the Security Council and all UN Member States to support all efforts to implement the ceasefire, bring about a permanent cessation of hostilities, ensure accountability, and create the conditions for recovery and reconstruction.Furthermore, the international media “must also be allowed into Gaza to report on this crucial story on the ground.”Mr. Guterres called for the international community to “seize the opportunity” of the ceasefire deal to intensify efforts toward addressing governance and security frameworks in Gaza.He noted that the Palestinian Authority has said it stands ready to assume its role and responsibilities in the enclave“I urge collective support for the creation of security and governance arrangements that will enable Gaza to be re-unified politically, economically, socially, and administratively with the West Bank,” he said.Two-State solution requires ‘irreversible action’He reported that, regrettably, the situation in the West Bank continues to worsen, with clashes, airstrikes, and unabated illegal settlement expansion and demolitions.“I am deeply concerned about an existential threat to the integrity and contiguity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory of Gaza and the West Bank,” Mr. Guterres said.He noted that senior Israeli officials openly speak of formally annexing all or part of the West Bank in the coming months, which would constitute a most serious violation of international law.He said “it is clear that greater stability in the Middle East requires irreversible action toward a two-State solution” between Israelis and Palestinians.

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20 January 2025

Guterres welcomes start of ceasefire in Gaza as UN ramps up food deliveries

Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the start on Sunday of the ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, as UN humanitarian convoys brought in urgently needed food aid to begin pulling the war-ravaged territory back from starvation.“We stand ready to support this implementation and scale up the delivery of sustained humanitarian relief to the countless Palestinians who continue to suffer,” the UN chief said in a social media post. He added: “It is imperative that this ceasefire removes the significant security and political obstacles to delivering aid.”According to news reports, three Israeli hostages held by Hamas were released and transferred by the Red Cross back to Israel, as the first phase of the ceasefire deal took effect. Reports suggest that later on Sunday, Israel is expected to release some 90 Palestinian prisoners. Brokered last week by the Qatar, Egypt and the United States, the three-phase ceasefire comes 15 months after Hamas militants attacked Israel on 7 October 2023. Some 1,200 people were killed and 250 were taken as hostages, with around 100 still being held.Israel launched the military campaign following the Hamas-led attacks on its territory. More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, according to Gaza’s health authorities, The Gaza strip has since been devastated and its two million inhabitants left in dire need of food and other necessities.The ceasefire and the implementation of the first phase was hailed by the United Nations as a crucial step toward peace and toward alleviating the immense suffering endured by the Palestinian population.In a separate statement, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher highlighted the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza following the ceasefire. “As the ceasefire entered into force today, humanitarian aid moved into Gaza as part of a prepared surge to increase our support to survivors. More than 630 trucks with humanitarian aid entered Gaza today, with at least 300 of them going to the north.”He acknowledged the challenges faced in delivering aid, stressing the importance of safety for civilians and aid workers. Mr. Fletcher, who heads up the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expressed gratitude towards UN teams and partners, emphasizing their courage and creativity in preparing for this moment. “I urgently call on countries with influence over the parties to ensure that this lifesaving aid reaches those who need it most,” he said. What’s left of ‘home’In the early morning hours after the ceasefire went into effect, many displaced Palestinians began gradually returning to see what is left of their homes.Shadi Jumaa Abu Sheha returned to Nuseirat in central Gaza, only to find the dwelling he had built mostly with his own hands “is no longer a home, it is a ruin.” He was accompanied by a UN News correspondent in Gaza as he assessed the extent of the damage, which had left some of the rooms in ruins, their interiors now open to the weather.Still, Shadi was relieved that “the bloodshed has stopped”, telling our correspondent: “This is an indescribable feeling. Thank God we survived this war unharmed. But I cannot describe the extent of the destruction...I do not know what to say.”Safe humanitarian access neededFor its part, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) acted swiftly, with convoys entering Gaza early on Sunday from Egypt and via Ashdod, Israel. The ceasefire has allowed the agency to bring in urgently needed food supplies at an unprecedented scale, aiming to stave off starvation in the war-torn region, the agency said in a press release. WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain emphasized the critical nature of this initiative, noting that the agency’s goal is to deliver at least 150 truckloads of food into Gaza daily. “After 15 months of war, we need all border crossings to stay open and function efficiently, effectively and reliably. And we need humanitarian teams to be able to move freely and safely across Gaza to reach those in need.”Health challenges ahead Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed its support for the ceasefire and highlighted the monumental health challenges that lie ahead. The conflict has left a devastating toll: more than 46,600 people killed, over 110,000 injured, and a health system in disarray, the agency said in a press release.WHO underscored the urgent need for billions in investment to restore the health infrastructure, calling for the unwavering commitment of donors and the international community. The UN health agency and its partners plan to implement a 60-day plan focusing on trauma and emergency care, primary health care, child health, and other critical areas.“WHO calls on all parties to uphold their commitment to fully implement the ceasefire agreement and to continue working towards a political solution to address the protracted crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory, which is essential for lasting peace.” the agency said.Focus on women and girlsUN Women has also welcomed the ceasefire and hostage release agreement, expressing hope that all parties will honor their commitments to pave the way for lasting peace for women and girls in Palestine, Israel, and the region. “The news of the ceasefire brings relief for the 1 million women and girls who have lived under continued bombardment, without safety in Gaza for the last 470 days,” the agency said in a statement. The agency highlighted the urgent need for humanitarian relief and reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside women's organizations and the families of Gaza to advocate for inclusive recovery efforts, rights, safety, and dignity.While these efforts mark a significant step forward, the road to recovery is fraught with challenges, UN Women said, urging all parties to uphold the ceasefire and facilitate the safe and efficient delivery of aid.

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17 January 2025

‘Enough death and destruction’: Gazans hope for ceasefire and a better future

In the wake of Wednesday’s announcement of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas due to come into effect on Sunday, displaced Gazans – ground down by 15 months of devastating conflict – have told UN News they hope an end to their suffering is in sight. Around 90 per cent of the population across the Gaza Strip have been displaced from their homes, forced to move to avoid Israeli military operations. Many have been displaced repeatedly, some 10 times or more.Much of Gaza is rubble, while Israeli airstrikes and military operations have damaged or destroyed around 60 per cent of buildings, including homes, schools and hospitals. The relentless bombing campaign has pushed healthcare to the brink, the solid waste system has collapsed, causing serious environmental and health risks, and the water system has been drastically cut.UN News’s correspondent in Gaza has been speaking to displaced civilians sheltering in Nuseirat, central Gaza, who are hoping to return to what is left of their homes and rebuild their lives.Despite the critical humanitarian conditions, um Mohammed Hanoun is determined to go back to the Al-Karama neighborhood in northern Gaza with her family, even though she received news that her house had been destroyed in a drone attack."My plan is to remove the rubble, set up a tent on my land, and live there,” she said. “All I care about is seeing my home. I hope that Gaza will be rebuilt to the way it was, and that our lives will return to what they were."‘We deserve a better life than this’"I want to go back to Gaza City for one reason, and that's to see my father," says Sami Abu Tahoun, a child displaced from Gaza City, after receiving news of the ceasefire agreement – which on Thursday was still in doubt as the Israeli war cabinet failed to vote on the deal.The youngster says that he had not seen his father since the conflict forced them to leave Gaza City, in the northern party of the Strip. "When we left our home, I lost something essential in life, my father. When my mother asked me to pray, I refused. I wanted to wait until I could pray with my father." ‘Enough death and destruction’"We want to think now about our future. Enough death and destruction,” says Ayman Abu Radwan, a Palestinian man who, like Sami, had to leave his home in Gaza City for central Gaza for a tattered tent.“We are tired. We have endured the full heat of summer, and the frost and cold of winter. Children are dying. Every night, I am woken up by the cries of a two-week old baby shivering from the cold. I hope that our conditions will improve. We deserve a better life than this.”Even if a halt in the hostilities allows Gazans to return home, and for the Strip to be rebuilt, the mental suffering will continue, according to Mohammed al-Quqa, who was displaced from al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City.“The greatest suffering will be the psychological situation. The war has been long, and our families, our children, have witnessed things they should never have seen.”UN humanitarians poised to deliver surge of aidIf the ceasefire agreement comes into effect on Sunday, there is widespread anticipation that aid coming into the Strip will significantly increase – in line with the reported terms of the deal.Throughout the conflict, humanitarian convoys containing desperately needed supplies have repeatedly been delayed or denied entry at Israeli military checkpoints (in December, 70 per cent of coordinated aid missions were denied).On Thursday, The World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it has 80,000 tons of food is waiting outside Gaza or on its way in, enough to feed more than one million people.However, the UN agency also underscored the importance of humanitarian teams and supplies enjoying unrestricted movement to reach those in need. UNRWA focuses on essential healthcareThe healthcare system in Gaza has been shattered as a result of persistent Israeli bombardments, and more than 12,000 people are awaiting medical evacuation.On Wednesday the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners succeeded in evacuating 12 patients to hospitals in Europe, but the agency is calling for many more countries to receive specialized treatment, as and when the ceasefire takes hold.Aid workers have been operating under perilous conditions: almost 900 have reportedly been killed since October 2023, including 265 staff from the UN refugee agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA.Despite the risks, more than 1,000 UNRWA workers – the vast majority of them local staff – continue to operate health centres, temporary clinics and medical points across Gaza, providing more than 16,000 health consultations per day.

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16 January 2025

Guterres hails Gaza ceasefire deal as ‘critical first step’

Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters, António Guterres commended mediators Egypt, Qatar and the United States for their dedicated efforts in brokering the agreement.“Their unwavering commitment to finding a diplomatic solution has been critical in achieving this breakthrough,” he said.He called on all relevant parties to uphold their commitments to ensure that the deal is fully implemented.Ease the sufferingMr. Guterres noted that from the outset of the violence, he has called for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Stressing that the priority must be to ease the tremendous suffering caused by the conflict, he said the UN stands ready to support the implementation of the deal and scale up the delivery of sustained humanitarian relief.“It is imperative that this ceasefire removes the significant security and political obstacles to delivering aid across Gaza so that we can support a major increase in urgent lifesaving humanitarian support," he said, warning that “the humanitarian situation is at catastrophic levels." Allow aid in The Secretary-General called on all parties to facilitate the rapid, unhindered, and safe humanitarian relief for all civilians in need. For its part, the UN “will do whatever is humanly possible, aware of the serious challenges and constraints that we will be facing”. He expects that these efforts will be matched by humanitarian organizations, the private sector and bilateral initiatives.‘Advance broader goals’ “This deal is a critical first step, but we must mobilize all efforts to also advance broader goals, including the preservation of the unity, contiguity, and integrity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” he said.Palestinian unity is essential for achieving lasting peace and stability, and he emphasized that unified Palestinian governance must remain a top priority. “I urge the parties and all relevant partners to seize this opportunity to establish a credible political path to a better future for Palestinians, Israelis, and the broader region,” he continued.He highlighted the need to end the occupation and achieve a negotiated two-State solution between Israelis and Palestinians.Remember lives lostBefore concluding his remarks, Mr. Guterres paid tribute to the civilians who have lost their lives in the conflict, including UN personnel and humanitarian workers. The war in Gaza recently entered a third year.Israel launched the military campaign following the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on its territory. Some 1,200 people were killed and 250 were taken as hostages, with around 100 still being held.More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, according to Gaza’s health authorities. UNRWA threat loomsGaza has a population of just over two million, and 1.9 million have been displaced, according to the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, which is housing hundreds of thousands in its schools-turned-shelters.Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini welcomed the ceasfire announcement in a post on social media, noting that “many have been hoping for this moment for the past 15 months.”"What’s needed is rapid, unhindered and uninterrupted humanitarian access and supplies to respond to the tremendous suffering caused by this war,” he wrote.The Secretary-General has repeatedly referred to UNRWA as the “backbone” of relief efforts in Gaza. The agency has suffered immense losses as 265 staff members have been killed and its facilities have come under attack.The ceasefire announcement comes as two Israeli laws aimed at ending UNRWA ‘s operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are due to take effect in mere weeks.“The agency’s collapse – whether immediate or gradual – will only compound the immense suffering in Gaza,” Mr. Lazzarini said earlier on Tuesday at a meeting in Oslo focused on the two-State solution.The killing ‘must stop’Officials from across the UN system have also welcomed the news on Gaza, where the end of war has been long overdue, according to the President of the General Assembly, Philémon Yang.“The killing and maiming of civilians must stop. All the remaining hostages must be released,” his Spokesperson said in a statement.“Humanitarian organizations must immediately be given full, safe and unhindered access to deliver badly needed assistance in large scale to the civilian population in Gaza.” Hope and humanitarian aidFor the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, the agreement offers much-needed hope to millions whose lives have been devastated by the conflict.“In preparation, humanitarian agencies have been mobilizing supplies to scale up aid delivery across Gaza”, Tom Fletcher said in a statement from Ukraine, where the UN is assisting millions impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion. “We will do our utmost to respond with the ambition, creativity, and urgency this moment demands, despite the significant security and political challenges to our work.”Remove all barriers“We urge the Security Council to use its collective voice and weight to insist the ceasefire is sustained, international law respected, and that obstacles to saving lives are removed,” the UN relief chief added. “We urge Member States to ensure that our humanitarian operations are funded to meet the overwhelming needs. And we call for accountability for the atrocities committed.”UN at the readyThe top humanitarian official in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Muhannad Hadi, said the UN stands ready to support the agreement and maximize the scale-up of aid as best it can,“It is imperative that this deal allows a significant increase in aid delivery across Gaza so that we and our partners can provide aid to the best of our ability,” he stressed.Childhood under attackThe head of UN children’s agency UNICEF, Catherine Russell, said the ceasefire deal is “long overdue” – both for the children and families of Gaza who have endured more than a year of bombardment, and for the hostages and their families in Israel who have suffered so much.She outlined the war’s “horrific toll” on Gaza’s children, with at least 14,500 dead and thousands more injured. Furthermore, an estimated17,000 boys and girls are unaccompanied or separated from their parents, and nearly one million have been displaced from their homes,Call for accountabilityThe High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said he was “hugely relieved by the news of the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza, and it is imperative that it now holds.”He emphasized the need to pursue accountability and justice for the grave violations and abuses that have been committed.“Those responsible for the heinous acts of 7 October, the subsequent unlawful killings of civilians across Gaza, and for all other crimes under international law must be held to account,” he said.Furthermore, the rights of victims to full reparations must be upheld, he added, noting that “there is no true way forward without honest truth-telling and accountability on all sides.”

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14 January 2025

Humanitarians continue to call for Israel to facilitate aid delivery in Gaza

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reiterated its call for Israel to enable the delivery of lifesaving assistance to people across the Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities continue to deny UN-led efforts to reach Palestinians with vital aid, the agency said, noting that only seven out of 22 UN planned humanitarian movements on Sunday were facilitated. Of this number, six were denied outright, five were impeded, and four were cancelled due to security and logistical challenges.New evacuation orderMeanwhile, ongoing hostilities and evacuation orders continue to displace civilians across the Strip. “Civilians must be protected, whether they leave or stay,” OCHA said. “Those fleeing fighting must be allowed to do so safely, and they must be able to voluntarily return when the situation allows.”On Sunday, the Israeli military issued a new evacuation order for residents in the Al Mufti neighbourhood in An Nuseirat, central Gaza. Some 4,100 people are affected by the directive, according to humanitarian partners.On the move againThe area under evacuation includes residents living in and around two displacement sites managed by the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA. Three medical points, two water delivery points and two temporary learning spaces are also located there.  “Partners have observed a limited number of people moving from the area under evacuation toward Nuseirat City and other parts of Deir al Balah,” OCHA said.Displaced people across Gaza continue to report critical shortages of food, water and sanitation facilities, OCHA added, citing a new survey of nearly 2,500 households. More than two thirds reported that they had been displaced at least once over the last 60 days.Senior official’s visitIn other developments:The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Muhannad Hadi, visited a factory in the south that provides furniture to temporary learning spaces in the Gaza Strip.After some 15 months of war, less than a fifth of school-age children in Gaza have access to some form of learning.Mr. Hadi was in Gaza City on Sunday, where he visited a church hosting more than 400 displaced Palestinians. He once again stressed the need to protect places of refuge and to end the war.

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10 January 2025

‘Children are now freezing to death’: harrowing updates from Gaza

The horrors in Gaza show no signs of abating, the UN said on Thursday, noting that the Ministry of Health reports that over 46,000 Palestinians have been killed there since October 2023, most of them women and children. Tragically in the last month alone, eight newborns have died of hypothermia and 74 children have already died amid the brutal conditions of winter in 2025. “We enter this New Year carrying the same horrors as the last - there’s been no progress and no solace. Children are now freezing to death,” Louise Wateridge from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, told UN News. Meanwhile, hostilities continue with relentless operations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) causing mass casualties and widespread destruction. Simultaneously, rocket fire by Palestinian armed groups towards Israel also continues, endangering civilians in the country.“The Secretary-General again strongly condemns the widespread killing of - and injury to - civilians in this conflict” said his Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric in a briefing on Thursday.Hunger crisis grinds onUN humanitarian partners have reported that the hunger crisis across the Gaza Strip continues to worsen, amid critical supply shortages, severe access restrictions and violent armed looting.In Central and Southern Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) disclosed that as of Sunday, UN humanitarian partners had exhausted all supplies in their warehouses. This comes at a time when Israeli authorities continue to deny most requests to bring food assistance from the Erez West crossing to areas south of Wadi Gaza.About 120,000 metric tonnes of food assistance, which is enough to provide rations for the entire population for more than three months, remains stranded outside of the Strip.UN partners have warned that if additional supplies are not received, the distribution of food parcels to hungry families will remain extremely limited.“More than 50 community kitchens providing over 200,000 meals a day to people in central and southern Gaza would also be at risk of shutting down in the coming days,” reported Mr. Dujarric.Impossible choices According to the World Food Programme (WFP), as of Monday, only five of 20 bakeries supported by the agency are still operational across the Gaza Strip - all of them within Gaza governorate.In order to be able to stay up and running, these bakeries rely on continued fuel deliveries by partners from southern Gaza.However, humanitarian partners have now warned that the lack of fuel to power generators is crippling Gaza’s health system, putting the lives of patients at risk and leaving aid workers with impossible choices to make.North Gaza update The conditions are particularly alarming in besieged North Gaza where the movement of humanitarian personnel is heavily restricted.Ongoing attacks and hostilities in the area have severely disrupted healthcare services for survivors who remain there. Access to Al Awda Hospital in Jabalya - the only hospital in North Gaza still partially functioning - is extremely limited.OCHA reports that Israeli authorities continue to deny UN-led efforts, including the most recent attempt on Wednesday to reach the region.Across the Strip, the Israeli authorities facilitated only five missions out of 15, with four impeded, three denied and another three canceled due to security or logistical challenges.“In Gaza, parents and children remain missing beneath rubble, separated or detained - their fates unanswered. Hope is silenced, and the brutal war rages on,” said Ms. Wateridge. The path forward Despite ongoing difficulties, the UN and its partners are working towards reaching people throughout the region with critical support. Across Gaza, between 22 December and 8 January, some 560,000 people received primary and secondary healthcare services.The Secretary-General called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law. “Civilians must be protected and respected at all times and their essential needs must be met,” said Mr. Dujarric on his behalf.“There must be an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages being held in Gaza,” he firmly concluded.

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08 January 2025

UN World Food Programme condemns Israeli attack on aid convoy

Israeli airstrikes continued across Gaza, while the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported that one of its aid convoys in the war-shattered enclave was targeted by Israeli fire on Sunday. The WFP issued a statement on Monday condemning the attack insisting that its vehicles had been “clearly marked”. “At least 16 bullets” struck the convoy of three vehicles carrying eight staff members which came under fire near Wadi Gaza checkpoint. “Thankfully, no staff members were injured in this terrifying encounter,” the agency added.All necessary clearances had been obtained from the Israeli authorities and WFP said that it was “just the latest example of the complex and dangerous working environment” confronting its teams. Warehouse strikeThe development comes amid reports that a missile struck a flour distribution warehouse in central Gaza run by a UN aid partner at the weekend, leaving three humanitarian workers seriously injured.UN agency teams in the vicinity of the storage depot described hearing people screaming after the strike. They also reported looting and gunfire after Sunday’s blast at the MA’AN Development Center facility.It has been 15 months since war erupted in Gaza, prompted by Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel that left some 1,200 dead in October 2023 and more than 250 people taken hostage. Reported ceasefire talks between Palestinian officials and Israel have yet to result in an agreement to halt the violence or release those captured. To date, Israeli bombardment from the air, land and sea continues to be reported across the Gaza Strip, where a harsh winter has set in. Eight babies are reported to have died from hypothermia and more than 45,300 Palestinians have been killed and over 107,700 injured; one in five of that number has sustained life-changing injuries since 7 October 2023, according to the authorities.

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06 January 2025

‘Hospitals have become battlegrounds’: Gaza’s health system on brink of collapse

In a Security Council meeting on Friday, Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, World Health Organization (WHO) representative for the West Bank and Gaza, painted a grim picture of the situation, emphasising that over 25 per cent of the 105,000 injured civilians now face life-changing injuries.“At the current rate, it would take five to 10 years to evacuate all these critically ill patients,” Dr. Peeperkorn warned, noting that over 12,000 people remain on waiting lists for urgent treatment abroad.System at breaking pointOnly 16 of the region’s 36 hospitals remain partially operational, their collective capacity merely above 1,800 beds - entirely insufficient for the overwhelming medical needs.“The health sector is being systematically dismantled,” Dr. Peeperkorn noted, citing shortages of medical supplies, equipment, and personnel.Kamal Adwan Hospital, North Gaza's main healthcare facility, is among the latest casualties.A December raid left the hospital severely damaged, forcing critical patients to be transferred to the Indonesian Hospital - another non-functional facility lacking essential supplies.Meanwhile, Al-Awda Hospital, the last operational hospital in North Gaza, struggles to provide basic care amidst depleting resources, ongoing hostilities, and a precarious lack of access to vital medicines.The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called the destruction of hospitals a “human rights catastrophe” which “continues to unfold in Gaza before the eyes of the world.”Addressing ambassadors, he detailed patterns of targeted attacks on healthcare facilities, including the killing and forced removal of patients and staff.Health workers targetedFor healthcare professionals in Gaza, “wearing scrubs and white coats is like wearing a target on their backs,” said Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan from NGO, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).More than 1,000 healthcare workers have been killed since October 2023.Despite the relentless violence, these professionals have continued their mission to save lives, often risking their own in the process.“They are proud hard-working professionals who take their oath to care for their patients very seriously,” Dr. Haj-Hassan said.Urgent action requiredDr. Peeperkorn and Mr. Türk joined voices in demanding increased humanitarian aid, expedited evacuations, and adherence to international humanitarian law.“The protection of hospitals during warfare is paramount and must be respected by all sides, at all times,” Mr. Türk stressed.WHO has verified 654 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza since October 2023, resulting in 886 fatalities and 1,349 injuries.Each attack leaves behind not just damaged buildings but also countless lives disrupted, denied access to essential care and stripped of dignity.Despite the devastation, Gaza’s health system persists. “Against all odds, health workers, WHO and partners have kept services going as much as possible," said Dr. Peeperkorn.The restoration of facilities like Al-Shifa and Nasser Medical Complex showcases the region’s ability to rebuild. "This is nothing short of a feat and is a reason to be hopeful,” he noted.However, without a ceasefire and increased protection for health services, the future remains disheartening.

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20 December 2024

‘Dying hungry and in pain’: An increasingly likely outcome in Gaza

Describing it as "the most dangerous place on earth right now." Speaking to correspondents via video link on Thursday, the senior OCHA official underscored the grim reality facing over two million people trapped in Gaza, where basic necessities like food, shelter, and safety have become scarce.“Dying hungry and in pain” is an increasingly likely outcome for children, mothers, aid workers, and teachers alike, he said.“We're there to support [the people] who for more than 14 months have struggled to stay alive,” Mr. Petropoulos explained. “But we're not allowed to do our jobs,” he emphasised.Humanitarian operations under siegeOCHA has been striving to deliver food, healthcare, and safe drinking water to Gaza’s besieged population, but fuel shortages and blocked access routes have exacerbated the crisis.Moreover, these efforts have been opposed by what Mr. Petropoulos referred to as “blanket prohibitions” from Israeli authorities.“When we raise these things with Israeli authorities, they reject virtually every single practical solution that we table,” Mr. Petropoulos said, adding that “the aid system has been weaponised.”He further revealed that aid delivery often becomes a race against time, with insufficient supplies to meet the growing needs of the population.“As an aid worker in Gaza, you're forced to make horrible decisions,” he described. “Should I let people die of starvation or of the cold? Do we bring in more food to ease hunger or more plastic sheets for some shelter from the rain at night?”, he illustrated.North Gaza: Mass displacement and destructionNorth Gaza, under near-total siege for 75 days, has become a site of intensified military operations.Mr. Petropoulos described chilling reports of mass casualties, the destruction of entire communities, and forced displacements under bombardment.“The Israeli corridor bisecting the strip, has been fortified to such a degree that it's not really a corridor anymore,” he said, noting that 150 requests for humanitarian access have been denied since October.Even when supplies manage to reach shelters or hospitals, they are often destroyed in subsequent attacks.A call on Member StatesMr. Petropoulos called on Member States to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and to ensure the protection of civilians.He emphasised the need for a ceasefire and immediate, complete humanitarian access.“We need to get to people wherever they are,” he said. “We need to prove the impact of this response based on how people are doing and not the numbers of trucks,” he added.The UN has consistently warned of the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres urging all parties to respect the principles of international humanitarian law and facilitate aid delivery to those in need.As the crisis intensifies, the UN’s humanitarian system in Gaza faces its greatest test yet, operating “hand to mouth” with little reserves left.

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Press Release

20 January 2025

Statement by Muhannad Hadi, Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory

I acknowledge the constructive discussions held with the mediators in Cairo and the agreements reached on implementing humanitarian components of the first phase, including the provision of supplies as essential as water, food, health and shelter to people across Gaza and the long-awaited release of hostages.I extend my gratitude to the mediators and all parties involved for entrusting the United Nations and our partners with contributing to the delivery of humanitarian assistance outlined in the agreement.Achieving the targets that have been set will require a collective effort. As the Humanitarian Coordinator, I reaffirm our commitment to successful implementation. We remain equally dedicated to supporting efforts that pave the way for a second phase and a peaceful resolution of the conflict.I call upon the mediators, the parties involved, our partners, community leaders, and the international community, including donors, to work together for effective and timely implementation, guided by the shared goal of saving lives and addressing people’s needs efficiently, meaningfully and in line with humanitarian principles.

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Press Release

09 January 2025

A week into the new year: violence shows no sign of abating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

The Gaza nightmare continues In Gaza, it has been 15 months of relentless Israeli attacks that have led to the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians, the displacement (often multiple times) of almost everyone across Gaza, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the collapse of public order and safety. Nobody has been spared with scores of killings of first responders, healthcare workers, journalists, local police officers, and UN staff. No place is safe with bombardment continuing to destroy homes, shelters, hospitals, schools and places of worship. The first week of the new year was no different. Israeli airstrikes, artillery shelling and gunfire reportedly killed at least 332 Palestinians in Gaza since 1 January 2025, including women and children. The Israeli military is still issuing displacement orders, including in Middle Gaza. Airstrikes in Gaza City and Middle Gaza were particularly harsh last week, creating further insecurity and risks for Palestinians who are being forcibly displaced from northern Gaza and are seeking shelter in these areas. In the meantime, Israel continues to impede the entry of aid into Gaza. The collapse of public order and safety, in large part a result of the Israeli military’s targeting of civilian police, also continues to make it difficult to deliver what little aid is available effectively to those most in need throughout Gaza. Since 1 January 2025, at least two incidents were reported of Israeli airstrikes allegedly killing guards providing security to aid distribution. A 74-truck UN aid convoy was attacked last Saturday by looters who then seized 43 trucks. An Israeli airstrike on Sunday reportedly hit the tents of internally displaced persons in the Israeli-designated “humanitarian zone” of Al Mawasi - Khan Yunis and killed two civilian police leaders, one of whom was allegedly in charge of aid security.The suffering of Palestinians in Gaza is compounded by the harsh winter weather conditions with no proper shelters to stave off the cold and rain. On Monday, 6 January, a 35-day-old baby reportedly died from hypothermia bringing the total reported number of Palestinians who succumbed to the cold to eight, most of them children. The West Bank The deterioration of the human rights situation in the West Bank also continues into the New Year. This includes the sustained increase in violence which has so far killed 813 Palestinians over the past 15 months, especially as a result of settler violence and Israel’s security forces’ consistent use of unlawful lethal. This has involved the growing pattern of using methods and means of warfare outside the conduct of hostilities, the use of lethal force against unarmed Palestinian bystanders, including children and women not posing any threat to life or limb, and extrajudicial executions of Palestinians “wanted” by Israel.This is in addition to the forced displacement of Palestinians with incessant demolitions and forced evictions, the expansion of illegal settlements, severe restrictions on freedom of movement essentially tearing communities apart, and an unprecedented repression of freedoms of expression, press and opinion. Since 1 January 2025, Israeli security forces continued daily raids of Palestinian communities reportedly killed nine Palestinians, including four children, most recently two boys aged eight and ten who were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Tammun today, 8 January. On Friday, Israeli settlers attacked several Palestinian communities across the occupied West Bank, assaulted and set fire to Palestinian homes and vehicles and seriously injured at least ten Palestinians, among them an elderly Palestinian man. On Monday, Palestinian armed men reportedly shot at Israeli vehicles near an Israeli settlement, killing three Israelis including two women aged 70 and 73 and an off-duty police officer aged 35 and injuring eight others. Threats of retaliatory violence are surfacing in the media including by senior Israeli officials. Concerns about the conduct of the Palestinian security forces The conduct of the Palestinian security forces also continues to be a matter of concern as an operation in Jenin Refugee Camp continued since 5 December 2024. So far, eight Palestinians were killed in the course of the operation, most of them unarmed, and six Palestinian security officers. Among those killed since the beginning of the year in Jenin are a father and his 14-year-old son who were shot to death together on Friday, 3 January. The Palestinian security forces denied responsibility for the incident. This is happening along with a growing crackdown on the freedom of expression and press in the West Bank including the Palestinian Authority’s shutdown of Al Jazeera broadcasts, reported administrative orders banning criticism of the Palestinian Authority on social media, and reported arrests, threats and ill-treatment based on the exercise of freedom of expression.   We are reiterating our calls on the Palestinian security forces to operate within the strict limits of international human rights law and urge the conduct of transparent, thorough, and effective investigations into all killings by the Palestinian security forces. Violations of international law must end Fifteen months of grave breaches of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law with impunity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory cannot be allowed to continue for another year. This responsibility falls on the entire international community, especially countries with influence and leverage who can exercise pressure to protect civilians from further suffering and ensure accountability. The UN Human Rights Office calls once again on Israel to respect its international law obligations, including as the occupying power, to ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians and their unimpeded and dignified access to basic services and essential needs. The UN Human Rights Office additionally calls for the release of all those arbitrarily detained in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the hostages who remain in Gaza. We remind Israel of its obligation to end its illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as per the International Court of Justice, and to stop all violations of international law including practices that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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Press Release

02 January 2025

Pattern of Israeli attacks on Gaza hospitals raises grave concerns about serious crimes under international law – UN report

The attacks, documented between 12 October 2023 and 30 June 2024, raise serious concerns about Israel’s compliance with international law, the report states. Medical personnel and hospitals are specifically protected under international humanitarian law, provided they do not commit, or are not used to commit, outside their humanitarian function, acts harmful to the enemy.“As if the relentless bombing and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza were not enough, the one sanctuary where Palestinians should have felt safe in fact became a death trap. The protection of hospitals during warfare is paramount and must be respected by all sides, at all times,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said.“This report graphically details the destruction of the healthcare system in Gaza, and the extent of killing of patients, staff, and other civilians in these attacks in blatant disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law.” The appalling destruction wrought by the Israeli military’s attacks on the Kamal Adwan hospital last Friday – leaving the population of North Gaza with almost no access to adequate health care – reflects the pattern of attacks documented in the report. Staff and patients were forced to flee or were taken into custody, with many reports of torture and ill-treatment. The director of the hospital was taken into custody and his fate and whereabouts are unknown.During the period covered by the report, there were at least 136 strikes on at least 27 hospitals and 12 other medical facilities, claiming significant casualties among doctors, nurses, medics and other civilians and causing significant damage, if not complete destruction of civilian infrastructure.In the exceptional circumstances when medical personnel, ambulances, and hospitals lose their special protection because they fulfil the strict criteria to be considered military objectives, any attack on them must still comply with the fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack. Failure to respect any of these principles constitutes a breach of international humanitarian law.Intentionally directing attacks against hospitals and places where the sick and wounded are treated, provided they are not military objectives; intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population as such, or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities, including the launching of an indiscriminate attack resulting in death or injury to civilians; and intentionally launching disproportionate attacks, are also war crimes, the report adds. Under certain circumstances, the deliberate destruction of healthcare facilities may amount to a form of collective punishment, which would also constitute a war crime.The report also notes that several of these acts, if committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population, further to a State or, in case of non-State actor, organizational policy, may also amount to crimes against humanity.In most instances, Israel alleges that the hospitals were being improperly used for military purposes by Palestinian armed groups, the report states. However, insufficient information has so far been made available to substantiate these allegations, which have remained vague and broad, and in some cases appear contradicted by publicly available information. If these allegations were verified, this would raise serious concerns that Palestinian armed groups were using the presence of civilians to intentionally shield themselves from attack, which would amount to a war crime.The impacts of the Israeli military’s operations in and around hospitals, and associated combat, extend far beyond the physical structures, the report finds.Women, especially pregnant women, have suffered gravely. Many women have given birth with no or minimal pre- and post-natal care, increasing the risk of preventable maternal and child mortality. The UN Human Rights Office received reports that newborns had died because their mothers were unable to attend postnatal check-ups or reach medical facilities to give birth.The increasingly limited healthcare system prevented many of those who had sustained trauma injuries from receiving timely and possibly life-saving treatment. By the end of April 2024, according to the Ministry of Health of the State of Palestine (Palestinian MOH), 77,704 Palestinians were injured. Many injured reportedly died while waiting to be hospitalized or treated. According to the Palestinian MOH, by the end of June 2024, more than 500 medical professionals had been killed in Gaza since 7 October.The Israeli military’s first major operation against a hospital involved Al Shifa Medical Complex in November 2023. It raided the facility a second time in March 2024 leaving it in complete ruin by 1 April. Subsequent to the withdrawal by the Israeli military, three mass graves were reportedly found at the hospital, with at least 80 corpses retrieved, raising serious concerns that crimes under international law may have been committed. Some of these bodies were reportedly found with catheters and cannulas still attached, suggesting they had been patients.In some of the attacks, the Israeli military likely used both heavy weapons and air dropped munitions with wide area effects, the report finds. It appears that an MK 83 munition was used in the 10 January airstrike in front of Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al Balah, Middle Gaza. Reportedly, at least 12 people were killed, including a journalist and several IDPs, and 35 people were injured. The use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in a densely populated area raises serious concerns of an indiscriminate attack.The report finds that another feature of such attacks has been the apparent targeting of people inside hospitals, but that in most of these cases it was difficult to determine attribution. The UN Human Rights Office verified multiple cases of people being shot dead at Al Awda Hospital in Jabalya, including a volunteer nurse who was fatally shot in the chest while looking out of a window on 7 December 2023.“It is essential that there be independent, thorough and transparent investigations of all of these incidents, and full accountability for all violations of international humanitarian and human rights law which have taken place,” said Türk. “All medical workers arbitrarily detained must be immediately released.”“It must also be a priority for Israel, as the occupying power, to ensure and facilitate access to adequate healthcare for the Palestinian population, and for future recovery and reconstruction efforts to prioritise the restoration of the medical capacity which has been destroyed over the last 14 months of intense conflict.”Please see the links to the full report below:ENGLISH: Thematic Report - Attacks on hospitals during the escalation of hostilities in Gaza (7 October 2023 - 30 June 2024) | OHCHRARABIC: https://www.ohchr.org/ar/documents/reports/thematic-report-attacks-hospitals-during-escalation-hostilities-gaza-7-october

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Press Release

06 December 2024

Seven attacks on tent encampments in the past two weeks kill 34 Palestinians including 10 children

Yesterday, 4 December, an Israeli airstrike hit a makeshift tent encampment sheltering 21 families in Al Mawasi, Khan Younis, which had been unilaterally declared a “safe humanitarian zone” by the Israeli military. The strike, together with secondary explosions, destroyed all 21 tents and killed at least 23 Palestinians, including at least 4 children and 2 women – one of them pregnant - while seriously injuring others. The Israeli military claims to have targeted “senior Hamas commanders” and alleges that secondary explosions were likely caused by weapons present in the area. However, according to the information available to UN Human Rights Office, it was the gas cylinders for domestic use that appear to have caused these secondary explosions.This is the seventh attack on an IDP tent encampment in the past two weeks, altogether killing at least 34 Palestinians, including 10 children and 3 women. Four of these attacks occurred in the Israeli-declared “humanitarian zone” in Al Mawasi, killing at least 11 Palestinians including a woman who died with her 2 daughters, and 4 additional children.Almost everyone in Gaza has been displaced more than once due to ceaseless Israeli displacement orders and bombardment. In this context, the pattern of attacks on shelters including schools and tent camps raise concerns about Israel's failure to comply with its obligations under International Humanitarian Law including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attack. Depending on the circumstances, such strikes may amount to the deliberate targeting of civilians- a war crime and could also amount to crimes against humanity when conducted as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population.The UN Human Rights Office urges the Israeli military to prioritize the protection of civilians in Gaza. We call for independent, impartial and effective investigations for all such attacks on tents sheltering displaced families that have led to the deaths of civilians, including women and children, since the beginning of the war on 7 October 2023 and for accountability for those found responsible. We also urge the Palestinian armed groups to refrain from any activities that may expose civilians to the risk of attacks.

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Press Release

21 October 2024

UN Human Rights Office is concerned over the potential destruction of the Palestinian population in north Gaza

For two weeks since 6 October, the Israeli military has taken measures that make life in North Gaza impossible for Palestinians while repeatedly ordering the displacement of the entire governorate. Israeli authorities prevented the entry of all essential supplies to North Gaza between 1 and 14 October, exacerbating the already dire situation under which food and fuel supplies to the north were dwindling, and many were facing starvation. After 15 October, a token amount of aid seems to have entered the North, but this does not commensurate with the needs of the population.While the Israeli military has demanded that all civilians leave North Gaza, it has continued to relentlessly bomb and attack the area, especially in and around Jabalya Camp. These attacks have made it extremely dangerous for civilians to flee, and the UN Human Rights Office has received reports over the last weeks of Palestinians targeted while fleeing. Many Palestinians in the North have also expressed fears that should they flee; they will never be allowed to return to their homes in North Gaza. Israeli troops have also destroyed residential buildings and attacked schools serving as shelters, resulting in numerous civilian casualties and further limiting available shelter as winter approaches. One strike on a residential block in Beit Lahiya on 19 October killed at least 87 Palestinians according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Keeping with the trend in this escalation, many of the casualties appear to be children and women.The Israeli military’s resumed attacks on two of the three main hospitals in North Gaza put even more pressure on the civilian population. All three hospitals, already damaged in previous IDF attacks, are also struggling with shortages of supplies and fuel. Rescue teams and medics continue to report restrictions and direct and indirect attacks by the Israeli military, hindering lifesaving operations, including the recovery of Palestinians trapped under rubble. Internet services in North Gaza have been disrupted since 19 October, and at least 3 Palestinian journalists were killed in the last 2 weeks, limiting the available information about the conditions of life in North Gaza.Reports also indicate that tens of Palestinian men are being taken into custody by the IDF, raising fears that they may be subjected to arbitrary detention as well as torture and other ill-treatment, especially considering previous violations documented by the UN Human Rights Office. Israel must promptly announce the identity of all those taken into custody and ensure their access to their lawyers and families.We reiterate that all parties must respect and protect civilians. Palestinian armed groups must refrain from deliberately co-locating military objectives and civilians or civilian objects and must take all feasible precautions to protect the civilian population and civilian objects under their control against the effects of attacks. Even where Palestinian armed groups have failed to comply with these norms of IHL, Israeli forces retain their obligations to respect the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack.The UN Human Rights Office reminds the State of Israel of the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice on 26 January 2024 that it take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in relation to Palestinians in Gaza. It also reminds Israel that, as the occupying power, it must ensure the provision of food, medical supplies and shelter for the population of Gaza, as also ordered by the International Court of Justice.

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