Published on: 2026-04-28
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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The situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank continues to deteriorate against the backdrop of regional instability. This was stated at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council by the Assistant to the Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Pacific countries, Khaled Khiari.
Humanitarian crisis in Gaza
Chiari characterized the current ceasefire regime in Gaza as “increasingly fragile.” Israeli airstrikes on the sector continue, and Hamas has not ceased hostilities. Negotiations on the disarmament of groups, as provided for by Resolution 2803 (2025), have so far not led to an agreement. According to the Ministry of Health, since the start of the ceasefire as a result of shelling, about 800 Palestinians have died in Gaza, including more than 200 children.
“The population of Gaza is subjected to constant and deadly Israeli strikes and lives in extremely harsh humanitarian conditions, while on the West Bank there is violence, including widespread violence by settlers, forced displacement, and activation of settlement construction, threatening entire communities and further undermining the prospects of the political process,” said Chiari.
The humanitarian situation in the enclave is critical: 1.8 million people, that is almost the entire population of Gaza, have no permanent housing. Although more aid is entering the enclave, Israel’s restrictions on the delivery of “dual-use” goods and the unstable operation of checkpoints still do not allow the UN to deploy humanitarian operations in the necessary volumes.
Chiari reminds that, according to estimates by the UN, the European Union, and the World Bank, 71.4 billion dollars will be needed for the restoration of Gaza in the coming decade. Of this amount, 26.3 billion dollars will be required in the first 18 months — for the restoration of basic infrastructure and the economy.
To address these tasks, the UN launched the “Horizon” Fund, co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Palestine Mohammed Mustafa and the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Ramiz Alakbarov.
“This fund will allow the UN to carry out planning of measures for the prompt restoration of all occupied Palestinian territories in accordance with UN resolutions and international law standards. We are deeply grateful to the UN member states for their contributions,” said Khiari.
He paid special attention to the political aspect of conflict resolution. For its advancement, he noted, it is necessary to allow the Palestinian National Consultative Committee for the Gaza Strip to perform its functions in coordination with the Palestinian administration. At the same time, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the sector, the disarmament of groups, and the deployment of international forces for stabilization must take place – in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan for ending the conflict in Gaza.
The situation on the Western Front is heating up
The situation on the West Bank is also escalating, Chiari reported, due to the unprecedented expansion of settlement activities. In March, the Israeli Cabinet approved the creation of 34 settlements in Zone C. Between March 14 and April 16, plans for the construction of 1080 housing units were advanced. During this time, 21 Palestinians and one Israeli died in clashes on the West Bank.
“The frequency and severity of attacks by settlers continue to increase. Entire Palestinian communities regularly face fatal violence, vandalism, and persecution, often in the presence of Israeli soldiers or with their participation,” said the Assistant Secretary-General.
Chiari warned about an “existential financial crisis” in the Palestinian administration. As of today, it is deprived of self-sufficiency instruments.
He also welcomed the extension of the three-week ceasefire regime between Israel and Lebanon and the ongoing negotiations, which are being conducted with the assistance of the United States. At the same time, Chiari noted that the situation on the ground remains extremely unstable, and the violence continues.
Tony Blair: a “turning point” has come for Gaza
“We have reached a turning point,” said former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair, a member of the Executive Council of the “Council of Peace,” established by US President Donald Trump, in his speech at the Security Council meeting.
He called on Security Council members to mobilize resources for providing humanitarian aid and restoring the Gaza Strip through the UN and the World Bank in close cooperation with the Palestinian National Consultative Committee for the management of the Gaza Strip, supported by the “Peace Council”.
“The reason why President Trump’s peace plan could end the war in Gaza was that it was based on a strategically consistent concept,” Blair explained.
KHAMAS in its current composition cannot play any role in the management of Gaza, emphasized the former prime minister.
“We need Hamas to agree to the process of demilitarization of Gaza and to comply with its terms. And we need Israel to fulfill its obligations within the framework of the same process,” he said.
Blair stated the necessity to help the parties “create conditions for peaceful coexistence.”
“That is precisely why we developed this plan for Gaza. In the event of its implementation, the residents of Gaza will be able to live in prosperity, and Israel—in security. That is exactly why it is also necessary for us to solve the problem on the West Bank, so that the Palestinians there can also share in this prosperity and peace,” emphasized the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
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