Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Security Council
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Yemen
United States
Sudan
South Sudan
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ukraine
Haiti
Food Loss and Waste Reduction
UNGA/Bilateral Meetings
SECURITY COUNCIL
Ramiz Alkbarov, the Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council this morning on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2334.
He told Council members that the Secretary-General is appalled by the escalation of Israeli military operations throughout the Gaza Strip, which continues to bring death at unprecedented rate and destruction to Palestinians. He condemns the killing of civilians in Gaza, including women and children, and says that the situation in Gaza is morally, politically, and legally intolerable.
The Secretary-General said that Israeli settlement expansion continues to accelerate, alongside the proliferation of outposts and steps in the Israeli Knesset promoting the annexation of the West Bank. Israeli settlements have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law and UN resolutions. They are systematically shrinking the territory of the Palestinian State and further entrenching Israel’s unlawful occupation.
Mr. Alakbarov said that the Secretary-General once more calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire; the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages; and unfettered humanitarian access across Gaza. He welcomes the continued efforts of the mediators to reach a deal and urges all sides to end these devastating hostilities immediately.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that Israeli operations, including shelling and air strikes, have continued across the Strip. High-rise buildings were reportedly hit in Ar Rimal, Beach camp, Tal al Hawa and other areas around Gaza City.
Meanwhile, UN teams are working to bring in aid to support bakeries and community kitchens. Across Gaza yesterday, 658,000 meals were prepared and delivered by 18 partners through 137 kitchens.
But humanitarians’ access to northern Gaza is especially complicated. In the north, daily meals were reduced from 170,000 in mid-September to about 50,000 yesterday, as our partners relocated and scaled up their operations in central and south Gaza.
UN partners say that this week, about 50 communal ovens in Gaza City are operational, helping some 2,700 families bake their dough for free.
OCHA reminds us that the UN and its partners have not been allowed to bring any food aid from Zikim crossing into northern Gaza for more than two weeks.
Amid the ongoing hostilities and destruction, while many people remain in Gaza City and the north, many others continue to flee southward. Yesterday, UN partners recorded nearly 6,900 displacements from north to south through four monitoring points. Overall, between mid-August and yesterday, almost 453,000 displacements were recorded across the Gaza Strip, with the majority originating from Gaza City.
People are having to seek shelter in areas that are overcrowded and lacking in basic services. Only 18 per cent of the Gaza Strip is not currently subject to displacement orders or located within militarized zones.
Across Gaza, our teams continue to face denials and impediments in delivering assistance. Yesterday, more than 40 per cent of the humanitarian missions that require coordination with the Israeli military were denied. While our teams were able to collect some fuel from Kerem Shalom and distribute medical supplies in Deir al Balah, water trucking continues to be denied.
UN partners working in water, sanitation and hygiene assess that almost 80 per cent of the population in the Gaza, the Middle area and Khan Younis governorates collect water from trucks.
The UN calls upon Israeli authorities to fully facilitate humanitarian operations, including sustained and unimpeded movement into and across the Gaza Strip. It also reminds Israel, Hamas and any armed group that aid workersand their vehicles must not be attacked or denied critical access on the ground.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=29%20September%202025