A senior United Nations official warned the Security Council yesterday that the situation in the Gaza Strip remains “dire,” despite the ongoing ceasefire. Ramez Alakbarov, Deputy Special Coordinator for the UN Peace Process, delivered the briefing via video link, highlighting persistent challenges facing the Gazan population.
Alakbarov stated that while basic food commodities are available and prices have improved somewhat, many families are still unable to afford essential protein sources like chicken and meat. This underscores the continued economic hardship impacting residents of the Strip.
The UN official further emphasized the significant obstacles the United Nations and its partners face in providing adequate shelter materials, including tents and blankets. He stressed the urgent need to address these delays, particularly with the approaching winter season, to prevent further suffering among displaced populations.
Alakbarov’s briefing followed his recent visit to Gaza, where he met with displaced individuals and humanitarian workers. He cautioned that the fragile ceasefire is threatened by ongoing violence and urged all parties to exercise restraint and adhere to their commitments under the truce agreement.
He affirmed that the United Nations has intensified its efforts to expand humanitarian aid delivery and called on Israel to increase the capacity of border crossings and expedite the approval process for incoming supplies. Alakbarov emphasized that decisions made now will determine whether the ceasefire holds or collapses, stressing the importance of fully implementing the first phase of the agreement and urging parties to reach an immediate consensus on mechanisms for subsequent phases.
While acknowledging that the ceasefire has largely held in Gaza since its implementation last month, Alakbarov noted that recent Israeli airstrikes on populated areas have resulted in numerous casualties and widespread destruction. He also reported continued sporadic attacks by Palestinian militants on Israeli soldiers within the Strip, warning of the potential for a complete breakdown of the truce.
Separately, Alakbarov expressed serious concern over escalating settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, including the proliferation of settlement outposts and related violence. He described settler violence, displacement, and evictions as reaching “alarming” levels.
The UN official concluded by highlighting that settler violence has reached “emergency levels”, further destabilizing the region.
