Israel declares Gaza largely destroyed as UN urges humanitarian reconstruction

UN Middle East peace envoy Ramiz Alakbarov told the Security Council that humanitarian conditions in Gaza have only marginally improved and that aid alone will not sustain reconstruction without a political process. He called for rapid implementation of the Council’s plan, rebuilding essential infrastructure and supporting Palestinian institutions, and urged Israel to curb settler violence while warning against escalation in the West Bank.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz publicly asserted that Israel has devastated Gaza, estimating that roughly 70 % of the territory has been demolished, citing the destruction of neighborhoods such as Jabalia and Shuja’iyya. Katz warned Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan against intervening in the conflict and accused Ankara of attempting to destabilise the region.

Both statements underscore the scale of damage in Gaza and the deepening geopolitical tensions surrounding the conflict.