The UN and the crisis in the Middle East: What you need to know

31 October

Israeli laws blocking UNRWA – devastating humanitarian impact for Palestinians? (UN News)

On Monday, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, voted in favour of legislation targeting the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, which could effectively bring its operations in the occupied Palestinian territories to a halt. Here are five things to know about the bills and the potential consequences if they go into effect.

• Israel: UNICEF statement on Israeli legislation on UNRWA (UNICEF)
• Lebanon: War in Lebanon inflicting devastating physical and emotional impacts on children (UNICEF)

30 October

• Middle East: Statement by Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA at the High-Level Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution (UNRWA)
• Middle East: Letter from President General Assembly on the UNRWA SG letter (UN PGA)
• Middle East: Statement of the PGA on Israeli legislation on UNRWA (UN PGA)
• Middle East: Letter from President General Assembly on the UNRWA- informal plenary (UN PGA)
• oPt: Statement by Navi Pillay, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel (COI-OPTEJI)

29 October

• Gaza: urgent action needed as hunger soars to critical levels (WFP)
• Gaza: WFP sounds alarm: urgent action needed as food insecurity in Gaza reaches critical levels (WFP)
• Gaza: Comment by UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on deadly Gaza strike (OHCHR)
• Gaza: ETC Services in Gaza (WFP)
• Middle East: UNRWA is Irreplaceable (IOM)
• Middle East: Letter from UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini to the President of the United Nations General Assembly Mr Philémon Yang (UNRWA)
• Middle East: Statement by Ms. Alice Wairimu Nderitu, United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, on the situation in the Middle East (UN)
• Lebanon: UNIFIL Statement
• Northern Gaza: Statement by UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, on Beit Lahia (UNSCO)

28 October

• Gaza: Protecting livelihoods and lives in Gaza (FAO)
• Israel: The vote by the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) against UNRWA this evening is unprecedented and sets a dangerous precedent (UNRWA)
• Israel: Statement of the Secretary-General on Israeli legislation on UNRWA (OSSG)

27 October

• Northern Gaza: Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General (OSSG)

26 October

• Northern Gaza: Acting UN relief chief: ‘Disregard for humanity must stop’ in North Gaza (OCHA)

25 October

• Gaza: Dying in waiting: Gaza’s children face lethal delays in medical evacuation (UNICEF)
• Gaza: Türk says world must act as darkest moment of Gaza conflict unfolds (OHCHR)
• Lebanon: Statement of UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (UNSCOL)
• Lebanon: UNIFIL Statement (UNIFIL)

24 October

• Lebanon: Statement of Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA at the International Conference in Support of Lebanon’s People and Sovereignty (UNRWA)
• Lebanon: Remarks by UN DSCL/RC/HC, Imran Riza at the International Conference in Support of Lebanon’s People and Sovereigntyl (OCHA, UN RC/HC Lebanon)
• Lebanon: Unity in Crisis – UNRWA’s inclusive approach to shelter displaced people in Lebanon (UNRWA)
• Lebanon: Remarks by UN DSCL/RC/HC, Imran Riza at the International Conference in Support of Lebanon’s People and Sovereignty (DSCOL)
• Lebanon: High Commissioner’s statement at the International Conference in Support of Lebanon’s People and Sovereignty, Paris (UNHCR)
• Lebanon & Syria: Statement by UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula – On the recent attack on the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria (OCHA, UN RC/HC Syria)

23 October

• Gaza: The EU disbursement of EUR 16 million will continue to provide much needed support to Palestine refugees in Gaza and in the region (UNRWA)
• Lebanon: Lebanon Humanitarian Fund at a glance, October 2024 (OCHA Publication)
• Lebanon: Economic and social consequences of the escalating hostilities in Lebanon | October 2024 – Rapid Appraisal (UNDP Publication)
• Lebanon: UN Development Programme warns of socio-economic crisis in Lebanon amidst escalation of hostilities (UNDP)
• Northern Gaza: Intense bombardments, mass displacements and lack of access in northern Gaza force the postponement of polio vaccin (WHO)
• Northern Gaza: Intense bombardments, mass displacements and lack of access in northern Gaza force the postponement of polio vaccination campaign (UNICEF)
• Syria: Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy, OCHA, on behalf of Acting USG for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Ms. Joyce Msuya – Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria (OCHA)

22 October

• Gaza: New UN report: Impacts of war have set back development in Gaza by as much as 69 years (UNDP)
• Lebanon: Beirut hospital attack: Civilians must be protected (OHCHR)
• Middle East: “The situation in the Middle East is catastrophic,” says FAO Director-General (FAO)
• Northern Gaza: SOS from our UNRWA staff in northern Gaza (UNRWA)

21 October

Northern Gaza: The UN human rights office, OHCHR, has expressed growing alarm over Israel’s military operations in northern Gaza, warning that the combination of relentless attacks, forced displacement and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid could amount to the wholesale “destruction” of the Palestinian population in the region. (UN News)

• Gaza: the Israeli Authorities continue to deny humanitarian missions (UNRWA)