United Nations response to the conflict in the Middle East

27 November

The dialogue that led to the release of hostages held by Hamas & Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails must continue.

Countries must use their influence for a humanitarian ceasefire & support irreversible steps towards the only sustainable future for the region: a two-state…

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) November 27, 2023

UN experts today called for prompt, transparent and independent investigations into allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, perpetrated in Israel and in the Occupied Palestinian Territory on 7 October 2023 and thereafter.

25 November

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs confirms that 61 trucks of aid were delivered to northern Gaza today, the largest number since 7 October. They included food, water and emergency medical supplies. Eleven ambulances, 3 coaches and a flatbed were delivered to Al Shifa hospital to assist with evacuations.

Another 200 trucks were dispatched from Nitzana. Of them 187 entered Gaza by 19:00 local time.

In addition, 129,000 liters of fuel crossed into Gaza.

22 November

The Secretary-General welcomes the agreement reached by Israel and Hamas, with the mediation of Qatar supported by Egypt and the United States. This is an important step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done.

21 November

UNICEF Statement – If children’s access to water and sanitation in Gaza continues to be restricted and insufficient, we will see a tragic – yet entirely avoidable – surge in the number of children dying.

“It is also now raining in Gaza. Combined, children face a serious threat of mass disease outbreak. It will be lethal.”

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier – “About 160 children are killed every day; that’s one every 10 minutes,”

WHO Statement – announced the death of one of its staff in Gaza. Dima Abdullatif Mohammed Alhaj, 29 years old, had been with WHO since December 2019. She worked as a patient administrator at the Limb Reconstruction Centre, a critical part of the WHO Trauma and Emergency Team.

20 November

“We are witnessing a killing of civilians that is unparalleled and unprecedented in any conflict since I am Secretary-General,” says @antonioguterres responding to correspondent’s question on Gaza. pic.twitter.com/WfU64A4zpR

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) November 20, 2023

The thousands of injuries sustained by civilians across Gaza combined with a burgeoning public health crisis is a ‘recipe for epidemics’, the World Health Organization’s emergency response director said on Monday.