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

10 February

• Israel/oPt: Distressing conditions of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees (OHCHR)
• Lebanon: UNDP and the Republic of Korea increase support to South Lebanon communities affected by recent conflict (UNDP)
• West Bank: Large-scale forced displacement in the West Bank impacts 40,000 people (UNRWA)

9 February

• oPt/east Jerusalem: WHO Regional Director’s statement for the Executive Board 156: Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem (WHO)
• Lebanon: Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the formation of a new Government in Lebanon (OSSG)

8 February

• Gaza: Demand for ceasefire in Gaza – Report of the Secretary-General (A/79/739) (UNGA)

7 February

• oPt: The rights of the Palestinians continue to be violated (UNRWA)
• oPt: UNRWA Situation Report #158 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. All information updated for 29 January – 4 February 2025

6 February

oPt: Humanitarian Fund Dashboard – January 2025 (OCHA)

• Gaza: WFP Deputy Executive Director calls for urgent action to rebuild Gaza after visit (WFP)
• Gaza: 15 Italian trucks delivered to WFP for humanitarian operations in Gaza (WFP)

5 February

• oPt: United Nations ‘Fully Committed to Peace, Stability, Inalienable Rights of Palestinian People’, Secretary-General Tells Committee (OSSG)
• oPt: Committee on Exercise of Inalienable Rights of Palestinian People Opens 2025 Session (OSSG)

3 February

• Middle East: Dis- information and mis-information continue (UNRWA)
• oPt: Official statement on the situation in Jenin camp (UNRWA)
• Syria: Statement Attributable to United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Mr. Geir O. Pedersen (OSES)

2 February

• Israel/Palestine: Statement by the High Representative Kaja Kallas on the entry into force of the UNRWA legislation (European Commission)
• oPt: Claims that hostages have been held in UNRWA premises are deeply disturbing and shocking (UNRWA)

1 February

Gaza/Jordan: IOM Chief Visits Jordan, Highlighting Syrian Returns and Gaza Humanitarian Response  (IOM)

31 January

• Gaza: UNRWA rejects assertion that West Bank installations are ‘terror hubs’ (UNRWA)
• Gazans depend on us for ‘sheer survival’ (UNRWA)

30 January

• Gaza: Statement by the Bureau of the Advisory Commission on UNRWA (UNRWA)

28 January

• Middle East:Statement by Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA at the United Nations Security Council (UNRWA)
• Gaza: WFP reaches hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza in first week of the ceasefire (WFP)
• Gaza: Immediate action must combine emergency relief with the restoration of local food production (FAO)

27 January

• Gaza: Scaling up supplies and services for children in the Gaza Strip (UNICEF)

26 January

• Gaza: The Government of Israel orders UNRWA to vacate its premises in occupied East Jerusalem and cease operations in them (UNRWA)
• Lebanon: Joint Statement of United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro (UNIFIL/UNSCOL)

24 January

UN rights office raises alarm over escalating violence in occupied West Bank

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday expressed grave concerns over escalating violence in the Jenin area of the occupied West Bank, condemning the use of “unlawful lethal force” by Israeli security forces. (UN News)

• West Bank: Concern at use of unlawful lethal force in Jenin in the occupied West Bank (OHCHR)

23 January

• Gaza: Millions of litres of fuel reach Gaza for critical humanitarian needs (UNOPS)
• Gaza: Surviving Gaza: The silent struggles of adolescent girls (UNFPA)
• Gaza: Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator – Briefing to the Security Council on the plight of children in the Gaza Strip, given the gravity of the humanitarian situation in Gaza (OCHA)
• Gaza: First IOM Aid to Gaza in Interagency Convoy Post-Ceasefire (IOM)
• Gaza: ‘We must be there for them now’ says UN relief chief, highlighting plight of Gaza’s children (UN News)
• Photo Story: Gazans return home to devastation and an uncertain future (UN News)
• Syria: Statement by UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations Ted Chaiban upon conclusion of his visit to Syria (UNICEF)