Gaza Herald – A senior United Nations official has warned that conditions in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank are “steadily worsening,” as escalating regional tensions divert global attention from the Palestinian situation.
Speaking before the UN Security Council, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East Khaled Khiari said that recent developments in the region have shifted focus away from the occupied Palestinian territory, even as the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate.
Khiari noted that nearly the entire population of Gaza has been displaced, with around 1.8 million civilians now living in overcrowded camps for internally displaced persons and relying heavily on humanitarian aid amid ongoing hostilities, widespread infrastructure destruction, and rising public health risks.
While there have been slight improvements in aid delivery, he stressed that Israeli restrictions, including limited crossing points, unpredictable access, and constraints on essential humanitarian supplies, continue to hinder relief efforts.
He emphasized the urgent need not only to sustain humanitarian assistance but also to advance plans for early recovery and reconstruction, warning that the current ceasefire remains “increasingly fragile,” with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the Israeli attacks.
In the occupied West Bank, Khiari highlighted a sharp escalation in settlement expansion, pointing to the approval of 34 new settlements in a single Israeli cabinet decision in March, the largest of its kind to date. He also reported rising attacks, stating that Palestinian communities are increasingly subjected to attacks and harassment, often in the presence of Israeli occupation forces or with their involvement.
Khiari further warned that the Palestinian Authority is facing a severe financial crisis that threatens the viability of its institutions, while economic conditions across the occupied West Bank continue to decline.
He reiterated that there is no military solution to the war, stressing that diplomacy remains the only path toward a sustainable peace, and that resolving the Israeli attack is essential for broader regional stability.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, speaking as chair of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, echoed these concerns and called for full economic and political empowerment of Palestinians. He warned that the Palestinian economy remains severely constrained due to movement restrictions, limited control over resources, and ongoing fiscal challenges, raising fears of a potential systemic collapse that could undermine prospects for self-determination and statehood.
