Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Lebanon
– Yemen
– Sudan
– Central African Republic
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
In the Occupied West Bank, UN humanitarian colleagues on the ground report that UN teams reached families in Qusra village in the northern West Bank, a village where Palestinian families had been trapped in following the establishment of an Israeli settlement outpost next to their homes and much tighter access restrictions imposed on them.
UNICEF team delivered water, food, medicines and hygiene items, as well as recreational kits for children.
As of earlier today, OCHA reports that three Palestinian families in the village remained surrounded by a heavy presence of Israeli forces as well as settlers.
Meanwhile, UN humanitarian colleagues say that separate efforts by municipal workers to repair water and electricity connections damaged over the past week faced serious impediments but were ultimately successful. Israeli settlers did attack the municipal workers, and Israeli forces detained some of them.
Israeli forces had also reportedly ordered a nearby Palestinian factory to suspend operations, affecting people’s livelihoods.
Elsewhere in the West Bank, UN humanitarian colleagues say that multiple people were injured over the weekend, including by live ammunition, in two incidents in Hebron governorate involving Israeli forces, settlers as well as Palestinians.
UN Deputy Special Coordinator Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, who also serves as the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator said that recent developments in the West Bank underscore the urgent need to protect civilians, safeguard homes and property, and ensure access to essential services. He stresses that what is happening in Qusra must not become the new normal.
In Gaza, UN humanitarian partners remain concerned about the impact of continued Israeli strikes on civilians.
Over the weekend, UN partners leading on security and safety have reported multiple air strikes and incidents of shelling, gunfire and naval fire, primarily west of the so-called "Yellow Line," which is where most of Gaza’s 2.1 million people are now confined, that is an area that is less than half of the Gaza Strip’s land. Civilians were reported among some of the casualties.
UN humanitarian partners also say that preparations for the coming rainy season are facing funding shortfalls and other limitations. It is critical that these preparations take place now.
They estimate that ahead of winter, the UN and its partners have been able to buy less than 30,000 tents, most of which are still stuck outside of Gaza. That’s compared with an estimated need of 80,000 to 130,000 tents, which depends on whether more durable supplies are allowed in.
Less than 40 per cent of the $4 billion required for humanitarian support across Gaza and the West Bank has been secured this year.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-08-17