This article is published in association with United Nations.

Thanks for joining us: we’ve ended our live coverage of the Middle East crisis for today in New York, but you can follow the resumed session of the Security Council later. Here’s a recap of what you missed this morning. 

Production team: Daniel Johnson in Geneva and Pia Blondel, Dianne Penn and Eileen Travers in New YorkJan 20, 2025  11:16 PM

Thank you for joining us

Today’s highlights:

• The Secretary-General made remarks to the Security Council earlier today, describing the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal as “a ray of hope.” He noted that over 630 trucks of humanitarian aid entered Gaza yesterday and reiterated the UN’s commitment to scaling up relief efforts.
• Council members and the wider UN membership expressed relief at the long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza, recognising it as a crucial step forward. However, members also laid out significant concerns and challenges, including the immense humanitarian needs and the fragility of peace in the region.
• In Syria, UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen met with Syrian officials to discuss the importance of an inclusive political transition. He also raised concerns over escalating violence in the northeast, which has displaced civilians and disrupted critical infrastructure, leaving 410,000 people without water and electricity.
• A new UN photo essay highlights the resilience of Palestinians returning to their homes in Gaza, now reduced to rubble after the 15-month-long war. The striking images showcase both the devastation and the strength of those rebuilding their lives. 

Stay on top of the latest news:

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• Keep apprised about what’s happening at UN Headquarters in the Security Council, the General Assembly, including its six main committees, and other official events with UN Meetings Coverage’s live blog, in English and French

Jan 20, 2025  08:48 PM

Gaza: Scenes from the ground

Palestinians are returning home on the first full day of the long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza. Watch the latest from UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, here:

In case you missed it: UN chief’s full remarks on Middle East

Earlier today, the UN Secretary-General briefed the Security Council on the Middle East.

Listen to his full remarks on SoundCloud.

Jan 20, 2025  08:23 PM

Daily press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York

The UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, has been briefing the media on the latest developments across the region and the world.

Here are some highlights:

Occupied Palestinian Territory

• UN humanitarian partners are increasing deliveries of food, water and essential supplies, as more than two million people in Gaza depend on them, according to Mr. Haq. 
• Many children – who account for about half of the Strip’s population – survive “on just one meal a day”, he said. 
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a 60-day plan to expand hospital capacity in northern and southern Gaza and deploy health workers from abroad. 
• Approximately 30,000 people in Gaza currently have life-changing injuries that require specialised care.

Gaza/©UNRWA

Lebanon and Israel

•  The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, began a visit to Israel to engage with senior officials, the spokesperson explained, adding that discussions focus on the implementation of the cessation of hostilities understanding, which began on 27 November 2024. 
• The Special Coordinator welcomed progress with Israel Defense Forces withdrawing and Lebanese Armed Forces re-deploying in southern Lebanon. She stressed the need for continued commitment to ensure long-term stability in the region.

© UNICEF/Fouad Choufany

Syria

• UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen held substantive discussions with Syrian officials in Damascus. 
• “Mr. Pedersen stressed the vital importance that the international community attaches to the success of the Syrian transition,” the Deputy Spokesperson said. 
• Hostilities in northeast Syria have escalated, displacing civilians and damaging critical infrastructure. Between 16 and 18 January at least three civilians were killed and 14 injured in attacks affecting Menbij, Ain al-Arab.
• “This also affects repairs to the Tishreen Dam, depriving over 410,000 people of water and electricity for six weeks now,” said the spokesperson.
• The UN and humanitarian partners are delivering assistance where possible, with more than 3.2 million people having received bread assistance, and over 400,000 have been provided with food aid since late November. 
• Last week, the UN dispatched 11 trucks carrying World Food Programme aid to northern Aleppo through the Bab Al-Salam border crossing.

Watch the full press briefing on UN Web TV here:

https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/p/2503451/embedPlaykitJs/uiconf_id/49754663?iframeembed=true&entry_id=1_kh4qjrrk&config%5Bplayback%5D={%22audioLanguage%22:%22en%22}&config[ui]={%22locale%22:%22en%22}Jan 20, 2025  08:15 PM

France: Gaza must be part of the future of Palestine

Nicolas de Rivière, France’s Permanent Representative to the UN, welcomed the Gaza ceasefire agreement and urged all parties to implement it “in its entirety”. 

He stressed the importance of releasing all remaining hostages, including French citizens Ofer Kalderon and Ohad Yahalomi. 

“Given the all-out humanitarian emergency, access is very important,” he said, urging for the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid in accordance with international law, and reiterating France’s full support for the irreplaceable work of UNRWA.

“The future of the Gaza Strip must be part of the future of the Palestinian State,” he declared, emphasising the importance of preventing Hamas from regaining control and preparing for the return of the Palestinian Authority.

©UNRWA

Turning to Lebanon, he expressed hope after the election of President Joseph Aoun and urged the swift formation of a government capable of uniting the country.

On Yemen, he called for the resumption of the peace process under UN guidance. He also urged the Houthis to end their destabilising actions in the region.Jan 20, 2025  08:11 PM

Fragile ceasefire aids region’s stabilisation, Russia tells Council

Back in the Security Council, Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Gaza lays in ruins, with UN experts saying it would take years to rebuild, which warrants the Council’s close attention. He trusted that the ceasefire would pave the way for rebuilding Gaza and returning the hostages.

UN News

Indeed, the ceasefire in Gaza is a precursor for the region’s stabilisation, including the situation in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. In addition, the ultimate aim should be establishing a Palestinian State, which would help to curb cycles of violence.

“It is the duty of the entire international community to protect this ceasefire,” he said. For its part, Russia would continue to play its role in supporting efforts to relaunch negotiations and to ensure ample humanitarian aid reaches Gaza.Jan 20, 2025  08:00 PM

Gaza: Challenges amid hope as ceasefire enters its first days

The ceasefire in Gaza brings hope, but immense challenges lie ahead to restore the health system, according to the UN health agency, WHO, which is poised to scale up the response together with UN health partners including its sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, fund for children, UNICEF, the relief agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, alongside 67 health cluster partners.

However, it is critical that the security obstacles hindering operations are removed, the World Health Organization said. WHO will need conditions on the ground that allow systematic access to the population across Gaza enabling the influx of aid via all possible borders and routes.

Read more about the challenges ahead here.

Gaza deal ‘long overdue’, US tells Security Council

A ceasefire and hostage release deal “was long overdue”, US Ambassador Dorothy Shea told the Council just now.

She said the agreement will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians and, most importantly, reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity.

“It is the result not only of the extreme pressure that Hamas has been under and the changed regional equation after a ceasefire in Lebanon and weakening of Iran, but also of dogged and painstaking diplomacy,” she added.

Ms. Shea stressed that now is the time for all parties to ensure critical aid reaches those in need throughout Gaza. In this regard, she urged countries to support this effort through funding and resources, and to help scale-up humanitarian aid.Jan 20, 2025  07:26 PM

UK tells Security Council ‘millions of people rely on us’

Addressing the Council, Hamish Falconer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom, described the ceasefire agreement as “a crucial first step” toward a two-State solution, offering hope not just for the people of Gaza and Israel, but for the world.

“The hostages have endured unimaginable suffering,” he said, welcoming the release of three hostages while urging the swift release of the rest.

Highlighting the dire conditions in Gaza, Mr. Falconer said the suffering there “almost defies belief” and noted that the onset of winter has worsened the humanitarian crisis. Emphasising the significance of the deal, he remarked that this agreement opens a way for people to begin rebuilding their lives.

He called on the international community to build confidence and sustain momentum to transform the ceasefire into a “lasting peace”. He also warned that “UNRWA faces a cliff edge,” urging Israel not to create additional complications for the agency’s work. 

“Millions of people are relying on us,” he said, stressing the responsibility of the Council to ensure vital aid reaches those in need. “We must not let them down.”Jan 20, 2025  07:19 PM

Photo story: Palestinians return home the day after ceasefire

Our correspondent in Gaza and UN agency partners have documented the bittersweet return home of more than two million Palestinians forcibly displaced during the 15-month-long war in Gaza.

© UNRWA

©WFP

© UNRWA

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