In brief
UN agencies report that airstrikes in Gaza have damaged infrastructure and displaced roughly 100 families. In the West Bank, around 3,000 Palestinians remain displaced in Hebron after Israeli operations restrict movement. The UN calls for protection and unhindered humanitarian access.
The United Nations’ humanitarian agencies announced on Thursday that airstrikes in Gaza are increasingly jeopardizing civilian lives and property, with about 100 Palestinian families recorded as having lost their tents and other belongings to strikes, fires and related incidents. In the West Bank, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) added that roughly 3,000 Palestinians remain displaced in Hebron, as Israeli forces continue to operate in the area and enforce strict movement restrictions.
Impact on Civilian Security in Gaza
OCHA’s field partners reported that on Wednesday in Gaza’s Khan Younis, a UN warehouse was hit by flying debris from a nearby airstrike. Although the UN staff members present escaped injury, the incident underscored the growing risk to civilian infrastructure and humanitarian workers. Earlier in the week, UNOPS staff noted explosions near facilities, small‑arms rounds striking a UNOPS staff location, and the detention of humanitarian convoy drivers at checkpoints.
These incidents come amid a continuing pattern of airstrikes that have targeted what OCHA describes as civilian structures, including markets, schools and homes. The office repeatedly calls on all parties to uphold their obligations to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel alike, emphasizing that the safety of aid workers is a shared responsibility.
Health Consequences and Humanitarian Needs
The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted that acute respiratory infections remain the leading health concern in Gaza, a condition exacerbated by crowded living conditions, degraded water and sanitation infrastructure, and shortages of essential treatments. A WHO report covering the period from 7 October 2023 to 30 September 2026 noted a rise in viral meningitis cases to over 200, with probable bacterial meningitis cases increasing to more than 70.
“Health partners say that overcrowding, degraded water and sanitation infrastructure, and shortages of essential treatments continue to heighten transmission risks,” OCHA stated. The office urged the lifting of restrictions on the entry of humanitarian supplies, specialized equipment, engine oil, spare parts, and other vital items, arguing that such measures are critical to scaling up health services across the territory.
UN agencies also called for additional funding from member states to bolster aid efforts, arguing that the current humanitarian response is hampered by economic constraints and logistical bottlenecks. The rapid response process activated by OCHA aims to mobilize support for displaced families, offering temporary shelter, food, and essential services.
Displacement in Hebron and West Bank Restrictions
OCHA reported that the Hebron Municipality recorded that about 3,000 Palestinians remain displaced from two neighborhoods in the city. Israeli forces are still operating in the Hebron neighborhoods, blocking the way in and imposing tight movement restrictions across the governorate. Their operations are disrupting Palestinians’ access to livelihoods, education, and essential services such as health care.
Most of the displaced families are staying with relatives, who have received support from local authorities and humanitarian partners. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stressed that citizens across the West Bank must be protected and that those displaced “must be allowed to return voluntarily.”
In addition to infrastructure damage, the UN documented that Israeli operations “have disrupted access to essential services and eroded basic human rights for the local population.” The office called on all actors to ensure that humanitarian assistance flows unhindered, and for the local authorities to facilitate the return of displaced residents where and when it is safe to do so.
Overall, the United Nations is urging that both sides uphold international law, protect civilians, and ensure unrestricted humanitarian access to mitigate the crisis’s impact on the most vulnerable populations.
