UN Official Describes Deteriorating Conditions in Gaza and West Bank

A UN deputy special coordinator told the Security Council on 21 May 2026 that security and humanitarian conditions across the Occupied Palestinian Territory have become increasingly precarious. In Gaza, Israeli strikes have continued on a nearly daily basis, killing dozens during the reporting period.

Israeli authorities stated that the Israel Defense Forces targeted Hamas militants and related infrastructure. The Israeli Government reported that it now controls 60 percent of Gaza, an increase from 52 percent since the ceasefire. Humanitarian conditions remain acute.

The population depends on daily aid deliveries. The reopening of the Zikim crossing in mid-April and a limited increase in aid volume have provided some relief, but operations continue to face constraints from limited crossings and restrictions on items Israel classifies as dual-use.

In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Israeli planning authorities advanced two plans for more than 640 housing units in Area C. In East Jerusalem, authorities advanced a plan for more than 1,620 housing units in the settlement of Pisgat Zeev.

During the reporting period, five Palestinians, including two children, were killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank, and 156 Palestinians, including 20 children, were injured by Israeli forces or settlers. Israeli sources reported seven Israelis injured, including one five-year-old child and two soldiers, in Palestinian attacks.

The frequency and severity of settler attacks have increased in 2026, affecting some 220 Palestinian communities and leading to displacement in some cases. On 11 May, the European Union announced sanctions on Israeli extremist settlers and entities as well as on leading Hamas figures.

The UN deputy special coordinator stated that implementation of Resolution 2803 cannot wait. All elements of the Comprehensive Plan, including disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups, Israeli withdrawal, and deployment of the International Stabilization Force, must be carried out in full.

The UN will continue to provide humanitarian assistance and support early recovery efforts. The UN Early Recovery Trust Fund, established jointly with the Palestinian Authority, is intended to scale up recovery in an accountable manner. The official urged Israeli authorities to take urgent steps to stop intensifying settler attacks and hold perpetrators accountable.

Recovery efforts must advance the reunification of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under a single Palestinian government and support a two-State solution in line with relevant Security Council resolutions.