UN Briefing: Fragile Gaza Ceasefire, West Bank Settlements, and Humanitarian Crisis

Fragile Ceasefire in Gaza

• 🕊️ The ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile, with continued attacks and strikes, but ongoing mediation efforts are welcomed to avert further escalation.
• 🤝 The UN is supporting ceasefire efforts and meeting the needs of the population, including through winterization efforts distributing essential supplies.
• 💔 Conditions remain dire, with a tragic hypothermia-related death of a newborn confirmed, highlighting the increasing risk with winter weather.
• 🚚 The reopening of the Al-Karameh bridge crossing for aid transfer is welcomed, but supplies remain at low levels, urging Israel to enable timely and scaled movement of assistance.

Escalating Settlement Activity in the West Bank

• 📈 Settlement advancement in 2025 has reached its highest level since UN tracking began in 2017, with Israel approving or regularizing 19 settlements.
• ⚠️ This includes settlements evacuated in 2005, and the UN urges Israel to abide by international law and the ICJ's advisory opinion to cease all new settlement activities.
• 🚜 Rising settler attacks are intensifying, with Palestinian farmers facing obstruction, harassment, and destruction of their land and harvests, often with the presence of Israeli security forces.

Concerns in East Jerusalem and Detentions

• 🚩 Israeli authorities forcibly entered the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem, seizing property and replacing the UN flag with an Israeli flag, actions strongly condemned by the UN.
• ⚖️ The UN remains concerned about the large numbers of Palestinians, including children, detained by Israel since October 7, 2023, with reports of torture, ill-treatment, and deaths in custody.

Humanitarian Situation and International Law

• 🆘 Humanitarian access remains restricted due to logistical and security obstacles, and the UN calls on all parties to respect humanitarian law and allow unimpeded entry of assistance.
• 🚫 All Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have no legal validity and violate international law and UN resolutions.
• 🌍 The UN remains committed to supporting a two-state vision with an independent Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel in peace and security.