Today's top news: Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territory

Aya, a 5-year-old girl clutching her doll to ease her fear, gazing at Gaza's sky filled with warplanes from inside an UNRWA school in the Gaza Strip. UNICEF

Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territory

The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, has wrapped up his two-day visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, saying today that he saw, in Israel, a nation that was left in shock after the brutal and graphic killing of some 1,400 people. Meanwhile, in Gaza, he said, women, children and men are being starved, traumatized and bombed to death. Their despair is palpable.

Mr. Griffiths reaffirmed that we need the hostages to be released immediately and unconditionally; we need to be able to provide the essentials for survival – particularly water, food, medicine and fuel – safely, immediately and at scale; and we need the warring parties to agree to pauses in the fighting.

Put simply, he said, we need the parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by taking constant care in the conduct of military operations to spare civilians and civilian objects.

Mr. Griffiths said reports that scores of civilians have been killed following recent attacks on the Jabalia refugee camp are just the latest atrocity to befall the people of Gaza.

The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, visited Gaza today, where he met with Palestinian communities and UNRWA colleagues who continue to serve people in need. He is the most senior official to be allowed into Gaza since the war began.

Mr. Lazzarini said he was there to show his appreciation for UNRWA staff in Gaza, adding that we have lost 70 UNRWA staff so far in the conflict. He said the staff told him that fuel is needed for Gaza and that, more than ever, a humanitarian pause is needed.

The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lynn Hastings, today welcomed the opening of the Rafah crossing to allow for the exit of those who have been injured and others, as well as the rotation of UN staff. Ms. Hastings reaffirmed the UN’s steadfast commitment to deliver vital humanitarian aid in Gaza.

OCHA reported that yesterday, 59 trucks carrying water, food and medicines entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing. This is the largest convoy since the delivery of aid resumed on 21 October, bringing the total number of trucks that entered to more than 200. However, the entry of fuel, which is desperately needed to operate life-saving equipment, remains banned.

Meanwhile, assisting an estimated 300,000 internally displaced people in shelters and hospitals in Gaza city and Northern Gaza is increasingly challenging due to the hostilities and the related inability of humanitarian workers to access these people.

OCHA estimates the cumulative number of internally displaced people since the start of hostilities in Gaza at more than 1.4 million, including nearly 689,000 people staying in 150 UNRWA facilities.

In the West Bank, OCHA reported that in 15 herding communities, at least 98 households – comprising 828 people – have been displaced amid settler violence or increased movement restrictions since 7 October. We estimate that nearly 2,000 Palestinians have been displaced amid settler violence in the West Bank so far this year.