Middle East

3 December 2024 Humanitarian Aid More than 2,000 people have been impacted by a new Israeli evacuation order issued in Khan Younis governorate in Gaza, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, reported on Tuesday. Monday’s directive is the fourth such evacuation order for the area since July and covers about three square kilometres.  OCHA stressed once again that repeated evacuation orders – which are now in effect for about 80 per cent of the Gaza Strip – leave civilians exposed...

Speaking from an UNRWA school in Gaza City, which is in the north of the Strip, Ms. Wateridge said that, for almost 50 days, UN humanitarian missions have attempted to deliver supplies to northern Gaza, including besieged areas such as Jabalia, but access to those in desperate need has been extremely limited. Louise Wateridge: I have heard absolutely horrific stories today, speaking to families who fled Jabalia for their lives. They say there was just nothing left. It was absolutely...

Why have the warrants been issued? The ICC can only investigate and prosecute if the national judicial system of the countries concerned are not, in the eyes of the Court, conducting genuine investigations or prosecutions for the same alleged crimes. “The primary responsibility is for the national judicial systems,” Fadil Abdullah, the ICC spokesperson, told UN News. “However, if there are no genuine investigations or prosecutions, then the court has to investigate and to prosecute where...

21 November 2024 Law and Crime Prevention The UN-backed International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, together with a former Hamas commander, citing allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Judges on the ICC said there were reasonable grounds that the three men bore “criminal responsibility” for the alleged crimes committed “from at least 8 October 2023 until at...

The warning comes in an alert issued by the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee (FRC), which underscored that the humanitarian situation in the enclave is extremely grave and rapidly deteriorating. “Immediate action, within days not weeks, is required from all actors who are directly taking part in the conflict, or who have influence on its conduct, to avert and alleviate this catastrophic situation,” it said.  ‘The unacceptable is confirmed’ Commenting on the...

6 November 2024 Humanitarian Aid As well as bringing emergency aid to those living in Occupied Palestinian Territory, UNRWA, the agency for Palestine refugees, also provides a range of crucial services. In Gaza, the year-long war has severely threatened the delivery of these crucial services. UNRWA continues to support children’s education where possible. Emergency relief: Drastically hit Before the war: Over one million Palestine refugees were estimated to be living in absolute...

Muhannad Hadi spoke to UN News from the Al-Mamouniya School in Gaza City run by the UN agency that assists Palestine refugee, UNRWA. Like the rest of UNRWA’s schools that are still standing as war continues, it now serves as a shelter for displaced people seeking safety in the besieged enclave where nowhere is safe. An ‘unbearable’ situation “This is not a place for humans to survive,” he said. “This must end. This misery must end. This war must end. This is beyond imagination.” Mr. Hadi...

4 November 2024 Humanitarian Aid Aid entering Gaza reached a new low in October, the head of UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA said on Monday, highlighting the continued need for its lifesaving work even as Israel moves to end its activities. The Israeli Parliament, known as the Knesset, recently approved two laws banning UNRWA from operating in its territory and prohibiting officials from having any contact with the agency. Israel has officially informed the President of the UN...

The UN-supported polio vaccine campaign concluded in besieged northern Gaza on Monday, with agencies inoculating 94,000 children, but thousands still remain out of reach. Richard Peeperkorn of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory said the target was to reach all children in the north with the second and final dose. Yet the ongoing year-long war combined with weeks of siege and Israel’s constant displacement orders and bombings has presented serious...

“To overcome challenges posed by the volatile security situation and constant population movement, robust micro plans have been developed to ensure the campaign is responsive to the significant population shifts and displacement in the north following the first round in September,” the UN agencies for health, WHO, and for children, UNICEF, said in a statement. UN organizations and partners began phase one in September and have had more than 200 teams on stand-by since 23 October to unroll...