Published on: 2026-08-01
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
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July 31, 2026 Peace and Security
Almost half a year after the start of the escalation of military actions in the Persian Gulf region, this conflict has become one of the main sources of global instability, disrupting maritime trade, leading to rising food and energy prices, creating tensions in supply chains, and increasing the risk of hunger and poverty worldwide.
This was stated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking to journalists on Friday at the UN headquarters in New York. The UN chief has just returned from a trip to the Middle East, during which he visited Syria and Jordan.
“The region – and the whole world – cannot endure the continuation of the war,” Guterres said.
“Hostilities must cease on all fronts in the region… Diplomacy must prevail,” he emphasized.
The Secretary-General called for the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and their adjacent areas.
Agreement on the disarmament of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza
The only “good news of recent days,” according to the UN chief, was the agreement announced on Thursday by U.S. President Donald Trump: it provides for the disarmament of the Hamas group and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.
Responding to a journalist’s question about the prospects for fulfilling this agreement, Guterres stated: “A ‘roadmap’ for achieving these goals has already been announced. This ‘roadmap’ must be followed strictly, without allowing doubts, skepticism, or attempts to undermine its implementation.”
“Now both parties must begin implementing the agreements reached,” he emphasized.
The situation in Gaza and the West Bank
The situation in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate, UN agencies report. In particular, humanitarian organizations have recorded a significant escalation of hostilities in the humanitarian zone – also known as the “green zone” – to the west of the so-called “yellow line” of control established by the Israeli armed forces.
Over the past week, the Israeli command has issued numerous evacuation orders and requirements to shelter in place. As a result of the hostilities, several humanitarian infrastructure facilities were damaged, including more than ten premises of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Restrictions on the import of lubricating oil and spare parts continue to cause serious problems for carrying out humanitarian operations. More than half of BAPOR’s vehicle fleet is out of order. In addition, due to a shortage of fuel and lubricants, 62 water intake wells are operating with major disruptions, resulting in a reduction of clean water production and distribution by more than 40 percent.
Earlier this week, Israeli military personnel and officials entered the UNRWA training center in East Jerusalem without permission, conducting an inspection of the premises during training sessions. As a facility belonging to the United Nations, this training center is protected under international law, UNRWA reminded.
According to data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, from October 7, 2023, to July 24, 2026, 73,246 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip, and another 173,727 were injured. About 1,180 deaths and 3,810 injuries were recorded during the period from the announcement of the ceasefire agreement on October 10, 2025, to July 22, 2026.
According to UNRWA, from the start of the war until July 29, 311 agency staff and 82 people supporting UNRWA have been killed in Gaza.
The number of children killed and injured in Iran has exceeded 2,500
The conflict in the Middle East is claiming more and more children’s lives. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), over the past five months, more than four thousand children have been killed or injured in six countries of the region, with over 2,500 of them in Iran.
Acting Regional Director of UNICEF for the Middle East and North Africa Abdul Fofana stated that children continue to die and sustain serious injuries in places that should be the safest for them, including residential homes and schools.
The reason for the organization’s new statement was a recent incident on Kishm Island in southern Iran. According to available reports, a two-year-old child and his parents died as a result of a strike on a residential building. Two more children were injured.
UNICEF emphasized that this incident serves as yet another reminder of the price children continue to pay for armed conflicts. According to recent data, in Iran over the past five months, 386 minors have been killed, and another 2,117 have been injured.
“The parties to the conflict must not perceive the suffering of children as something normal. It is the children who become the most vulnerable victims of wars they did not start and cannot stop,” Fofana said.
The organization called on all parties to comply with the norms of international humanitarian law. UNICEF emphasized the need for full observance of the ceasefire regime and the adoption of all possible measures to protect children regardless of their location.
Please note; This information is raw content received directly from the source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.