The UN and the crisis in the Middle East: What you need to know (Jan-Jun 2025)

What you need to know about the United Nations response to the conflict in the Middle East.

19 May

UN Women estimates over 28,000 women and girls killed in Gaza since October 2023 
During a temporary ceasefire in November 2023, Palestinian citizens return to their homes in the town of Khuza’a, inspecting homes that were destroyed by Israeli bombing. Photo: UN Women/Samar Abu Elouf
During a temporary ceasefire in November 2023, Palestinian citizens return to their homes in the town of Khuza’a, inspecting homes that were destroyed by Israeli bombing. Photo: UN Women/Samar Abu Elouf

UN Women estimates that more than 28,000 women and girls have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war in October 2023 – that is one woman and one girl on average killed every hour in attacks by Israeli forces. (UN Women)

  • Gaza: UN Relief Chief welcomes renewed aid deliveries to Gaza, but stresses it’s only a “drop in the ocean” of what is needed (OCHA)
  • Gaza: Escalation of attacks in Gaza with a pattern of strikes on Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) tents and residential buildings, as well as on crowded hospitals (OHCHR)
  • Gaza: UN Women estimates over 28,000 women and girls killed in Gaza since October 2023 (UN Women)
  • Gaza: As famine looms in Gaza, pregnant women and newborns face life-threatening health risks (UNFPA)

18 May

  • Gaza: UNRWA Commissioner-General on Gaza – today, the UNRWA staff death toll has surpassed the gruesome milestone of 300 (UNRWA)
  • Gaza: Eyewitness – ‘We have plenty of food ready to go into Gaza – we just need the go-ahead’ (WFP)

17 May

  • Gaza: UNRWA Commissioner-General on Gaza – more than 250 Palestinians in Gaza have been reported killed in the last two days alone (UNRWA)
  • Gaza: At Arab League Summit, Guterres reiterates call for Gaza ceasefire (UN News)
  • Middle East: Secretary-General’s press encounter at the League of Arab States (OSSG)
  • Middle East: Secretary-General’s remarks at the League of Arab States Summit (OSSG)

16 May

  • Gaza: Statement by UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Edouard Beigbeder, on the killing of at least 45 children in the Gaza Strip (UNICEF)
  • Gaza: Türk deplores Gaza escalation, pleads for global action to stop more killings (OHCHR)
  • Gaza: UN Relief Chief demands rapid, safe, unimpeded aid delivery in Gaza (OCHA)
  • Gaza: Briefing note – UN-Coordinated Plan to Resume Humanitarian Aid Deliveries to Gaza (OCHA)
  • West Bank: UN Human Rights Office – OPT – Extrajudicial executions and other unlawful use of force in the occupied West Bank (OHCHR)

15 May

  • Gaza: Briefing note on the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Food pipeline disruption and declining food availability in the Gaza Strip: Implications under international humanitarian and human rights law (FAO)
  • Gaza: Study shows how UNRWA delivered emergency nutrition support to children in Gaza (UNRWA)

14 May

  • Yemen: Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator – Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Yemen (OCHA)

13 May

  • Gaza: Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator – Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation and the protection of aid workers in Gaza (OCHA)
  • Gaza: UN Relief Chief calls on Security Council to act decisively to prevent genocide in Gaza (OCHA)
  • Middle East: FAO at the 9914th meeting of the UN Security Council – The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (FAO)

12 May

  • Gaza: Risk of famine for children across Gaza, new report says (UNICEF/WFP)
  • Gaza: Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on Gaza (OSSG)
  • Gaza: With famine looming, FAO urges immediate access to save livelihoods and food production (FAO)
  • Gaza: People in Gaza starving, sick and dying as aid blockade continues (WHO)

8 May

  • East Jerusalem: UNRWA Commissioner-General on East Jerusalem: An assault on children. An assault on education (UNRWA)

7 May

  • Gaza: UNRWA Commissioner-General on Gaza: No escape, death follows families in Gaza wherever they go (UNRWA)
  • Gaza: Türk – Israeli plans to expand Gaza offensive aggravate concerns regarding Palestinians’ existence in the strip (OHCHR)
  • Gaza: End unfolding genocide or watch it end life in Gaza: UN experts say States face defining choice (Special Rapporteurs)

4 May

  • Gaza: Statement by the Humanitarian Country Team of the Occupied Palestinian Territory – on principled aid delivery in Gaza (OCHA)

2 May

Reporters in Gaza bear witness and suffer tragic consequences
Palestinian journalist, Sami Shehada lost his leg in an attack in Gaza.
Palestinian journalist, Sami Shehada lost his leg in an attack in Gaza. © United Nations

“After losing my leg in the war, I returned to photojournalism not just for work, but because I have loved photography since childhood,” said Palestinian reporter Sami Shahada. (UN News)

  • Gaza: Statement from UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the situation for children in the Gaza Strip after two months of aid blockade (UNICEF)
  • Gaza: There can be no talk of a free press in the Occupied Palestinian Territory if journalists are being killed, and threatened for their work (OHCHR-OPT)

1 May

  • Gaza: UN Relief Chief calls for end to Gaza blockade, says “aid must never be a bargaining chip” (OCHA)
  • Middle East: Statement by UNRWA Commissioner-General, Mr Philippe Lazzarini, on Israeli Security Forces demolition orders issued on 1 May (UNRWA)

The UN Charter remains humanity’s best hope for peace.

Amid geopolitical divisions, member countries must uphold it & ensure that the UN lives up to what it was meant to be:

A forum for solutions.

A guardian of international law.

And a force for peace and security.

António Guterres

Secretary-General of the United Nations (27 May 2026)
Resources
Videos
Visuals

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

UNOSAT Maps – Gaza Damage:

OCHA – Situation in Lebanon:

  • Flash Update #24 – Escalation of hostilities in South Lebanon, as of 08 August 2024

UNRWA

United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL)

UN-I-SPAL:

The United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
Gaza-Israel: Escalation of Violence:

United Nations in Palestine (Resident Coordinator Office)

United Nations in Lebanon

UNRIC Library Backgrounders:

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, HQ in Beirut (ESCWA)

FAO:

ILO:

  • Report: Impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on the labour market and livelihoods in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
  • Bulletin No. 2

IOM:

Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC):

OHCHR

UNDP:

  • UNDP: War in Gaza
  • Expected Socio-Economic Impacts on the State of Palestine – Update (April 2024) (ESCWA/UNDP)

UNEP:

  • Gaza Strip – Suspected asbestos and hazardous waste contaminated debris: Damage assessment analysis (Published July 2025)
  • Gaza Strip – Preliminary debris quantification (April 2025)

UNESCO:

UNHCR:

UNICEF:

UNFPA:

UNMAS (UN Mine Action Service):

UNOPS

UN WOMEN:

  • Gender alert: Voices of strength: Contributions of Palestinian women-led organizations to the humanitarian response in the Occupied Palestinian Territory [EN/AR]
  • A gender analysis of the impact of the war in Gaza on vital services essential to women’s and girls’ health, safety, and dignity
  • In-focus: The conflict in Gaza (dedicated website)
  • Facts and figures: Women and girls during the war in Gaza (UN Women)
  • UN Women Palestine 6-month response framework (UN Women)

WFP:

2023/24 – WFP Palestine – Monthly Market Dashboard

WHO:

ReliefWeb – Occupied Palestinian Territory:

http://reliefweb.int/country/pse

Gaza Population Movement Monitoring Flash Update 29 (17 – 20 September, 2025)
UNRWA Situation Report #160 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. All information updated for 12-18 February 2025
Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip (6 August 2025)
UNRWA Situation Report #160 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. All information updated for 12-18 February 2025
UN 2720 Mechanism for Gaza Infographics
UN 2720 Mechanism for Gaza Infographics
Gaza Strip: Humanitarian response by the UN and humanitarian partners during phase one of the ceasefire (19 January to 1 March 2025)
UN 2720 Mechanism for Gaza Infographic: Monthly Overview (July 2025)
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 14 November 2024 [EN/AR]
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 11 November 2024 [EN/AR]
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 11 November 2024.
Humanitarian Access Snapshot - Gaza Strip | October 2024
Humanitarian Access Snapshot - Gaza Strip | October 2024
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 07 November 2024 [EN/AR]
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 07 November 2024 [EN/AR]
Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip, 5 November 2024
Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip, 5 November 2024
Lebanon: Conflict Intensity, October 2023 - 7 November 2024
Lebanon: Conflict Intensity, October 2023 - 14 November 2024
State of Palestine - Child Protection Area of Responsibility Monthly Snapshot (October 2024)
State of Palestine - Child Protection Area of Responsibility Monthly Snapshot (October 2024)
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 31 October 2024 [EN/AR]
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 31 October 2024 [EN/AR]
Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip, 29 October 2024
Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip, 29 October 2024
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 24 October 2024 [EN/AR]
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 24 October 2024 [EN/AR]
Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip, 22 October 2024
Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip, 22 October 2024
ETC Palestine: A Year of Response in Gaza (31 Oct 2024)
ETC Palestine: A Year of Response in Gaza (31 Oct 2024)
HeRAMS Gaza: Snapshot September 2024 - all hospitals
HeRAMS Gaza: Snapshot September 2024 - all hospitals
Lebanon: Conflict Intensity, October 2023 - 10 October 2024
Lebanon: Conflict Intensity, October 2023 - 10 October 2024
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 10 October 2024
Impact of attacks on health care in the Gaza Strip (7 October 2023 until 30 July 2024, 14:00)
oPt Emergency Situation Update 45 (7 Oct 2023 - 18 Sep 2024)
oPt Emergency Situation Update 45 (7 Oct 2023 - 18 Sep 2024)
Impact of attacks on health care in the Gaza Strip (7 October 2023 until 30 July 2024, 14:00)
Impact of attacks on health care in the Gaza Strip (7 October 2023 until 30 July 2024, 14:00)
Impact of attacks on health care in the West Bank (7 October 2023 until 30 July 2024, 14:00)
Impact of health attacks in the West Bank (7 October 2023 until 23 July 2024)
oPt Emergency Situation Update 41 (7 Oct 2023 - 20 Aug 2024)
oPt Emergency Situation Update 41 (7 Oct 2023 - 20 Aug 2024)
300 Days of War (WHO - Gaza)
oPt: 300 days of war - Health Cluster Overview, 7 August 2024
oPt: Humanitarian Fund Dashboard (July 2024)
oPt: Humanitarian Fund Dashboard (July 2024)
Gaza Strip: Access Constraints on Humanitarian Aid (27 March 2024)
Gaza Strip: Access Constraints on Humanitarian Aid (27 March 2024)
Impact of health attacks in the West Bank (7 October 2023 until 12 March 2024)
Impact of health attacks in the West Bank (7 October 2023 until 12 March 2024)
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in South Lebanon, as of 7 March 2024
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in South Lebanon, as of 7 March 2024
Flash Appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory 2023 Extension through March 2024
Flash Appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory 2023 Extension through March 2024
200 days of War – Health Cluster Overview (WHO)
200 days of War – Health Cluster Overview (WHO - 25 April 2024)
oPt: Humanitarian Fund Dashboard (February 2024)
oPt: Humanitarian Fund Dashboard (February 2024)
Education under attack in the Gaza Strip, as of 30 January 2024
Education under attack in the Gaza Strip, as of 30 January 2024
oPt Emergency Situation Update 20 (As of 11 January 2024 at 13:00)
oPt Emergency Situation Update 20 (As of 11 January 2024 at 13:00)
Gaza: Partners presence by governorate (directly implementing partners) (as of 17 January 2024)
Gaza: Partners presence by governorate (directly implementing partners) (as of 17 January 2024)
https://unric.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/01/100-days-of-war-Health-Cluster-Overview.pdf
oPt: 100 days of war - Health Cluster Overview
Overview of the damage to agricultural land and infrastructure due to the conflict in the Gaza Strip as of 31 December 2023
Overview of the damage to agricultural land and infrastructure due to the conflict in the Gaza Strip as of 31 December 2023
Impact of health attacks in the Gaza Strip (Update 28 November 2023)
Impact of health attacks in the Gaza Strip, as of 28 November
Gaza response: Palestine Logistics Cluster - One month after activation (16 November 2023)
Gaza response: Palestine Logistics Cluster - One month after activation (16 November 2023)
oPt: a Month of War (Update 6 November 2023)
oPt: a Month of War (Update 6 November 2023)
Health System Functioning: Gaza, 7 October - 6 November 2023
Health System Functioning: Gaza, 7 October - 6 November 2023
Aid Trucks Crossing From Egypt to Gaza (As of 15 November 2023)
Aid Trucks Crossing From Egypt to Gaza (As of 15 November 2023)
Gaza updated flash appeal
Occupied Palestinian Territory - Flash Appeal, as of 3 November 2023
Gaza Strip critical water and wastewater infrastructure, as of 22 October
Gaza Strip critical water and wastewater infrastructure, as of 22 October
Health Attacks in the oPt (7-17 October 2023)
Health Attacks in the oPt (7-17 October 2023)
Gaza hospital evacuation orders map
Hospital Evacuation Orders Mapping as of 16th October 2023

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