UN official warns of Gaza humanitarian crisis and West Bank tensions

United Nations official Ramzy Al-Akrof has warned of a complex and worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Despite some progress in food aid delivery, residents face critical shortages in water, sanitation, shelter, and waste management. Over 300,000 children in Gaza are currently receiving education in temporary spaces, and more than 8,000 people remain missing under the rubble.

In the West Bank, Al-Akrof described the situation as ‘extremely tense,’ citing continuous settlement expansion, settler violence, and movement restrictions. Reports indicate high levels of settlement activity, with thousands of housing units approved or proposed in Area C and East Jerusalem. Additionally, the Israeli military issued an unprecedented order to seize private land in Area A near Qabatiya for settlement infrastructure.

Al-Akrof emphasized that there is ‘no alternative to a two-state solution’ and called for a comprehensive approach to the Palestinian issue, including rebuilding trust and halting incitement to violence. He noted that UNRWA continues to operate in Gaza despite various constraints.