This article is published in association with United Nations.

Today 12:59 π.μ.

Gaza: UN ramps up aid response

The ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza is providing a critical window of relief for Palestinians in the war-torn enclave, as UN agencies ramp up the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Wednesday that large volumes of aid continue to flow into Gaza through the Erez and Zikim crossings in the north, and Kerem Shalom in the south, reaching areas that had been inaccessible during the conflict.

Humanitarian partners on the ground also noted significant improvements in operations with the return of law and order following periods of intense looting of convoys by criminal gangs, enabling aid organizations to scale up their efforts.

Read our full story here:

Read more at news.un.org.Today 12:59 π.μ.

Hamas robs children’s innocence, Israel tells Council

In the Security Council, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon highlighted the plight of Israeli children, growing up under rocket fire. Tens of thousands of children have grown up knowing that a Hamas rocket could kill them, he stressed, asking where is the outrage over their suffering?

“Hamas has robbed a generation of their innocence and their future,” he said.

UN News

If the Council cared about the children of Gaza, it would work with Israel to create a future of hope, not hate. But, to do so means a future that cannot include Hamas.

The international community must make a choice: stand with the children of Gaza or stand with those who use them as shields.

By refusing to confront the truth about Hamas, the Council is failing the children of Israel and Gaza as well as humanity.Today 12:59 π.μ.

The plight of children in Gaza

In case you missed it, watch as UN relief chief Tom Fletcher addressed the Security Council earlier this afternoon about the plight of children living in Gaza and what has been achieved in the first days of the long-awaited ceasefire.

Watch here:

Today 12:59 π.μ.

Palestine: Thousands of children killed, injured and missing in Gaza

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Representative of the Observer State of Palestine, said Israeli bombardments killed more than 14,000 children in Gaza.

Additionally, more than 20,000 children are missing under the rubble of their homes or shelters, or in mass graves, and tens of thousands are suffering from severe burns and permanent injuries.

“Israel left thousands of children orphans,” he said, adding that the country used starvation as a weapon of war in preventing the delivery and distribution of relief and medical assistance to civilians.

Furthermore, Israel has killed and arrested Palestinian children in the West Bank.

UN News

Mr. Mansour called for keeping the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on the UN list of abusers of the rights of children in armed conflicts.  He also urged countries to prohibit weapons delivery to Israel.

“This occupation, which is robbing us of our children, robbing us of our youth and of life, should end immediately,” he said. “It is time for us, for our children, to live a life free from the Israeli occupation and its aggressions.”Today 12:31 π.μ.

West Bank: Spike in violence against children

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, warned on Thursday that children are not being spared from escalating Israeli military operations in the West Bank.

In the last few days, Israeli security forces have surrounded Jenin camp, targeting militants and using drones, Apache helicopters, fighter jets and aerial bombing tactics, according to OHCHR’s top official in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ajith Sunghay.

Children both from the West Bank and Gaza want to return to school and are extremely affected by “the pains of the occupation and war”.

In an interview with UN News, Mr. Sunghay, told Daniel Johnson that children in Gaza have already gone through “massive trauma” and that it will take years for them “to go back to some sense of normalcy”.

Listen to the full interview here:

Read more at news.un.org.Today 12:15 π.μ.

Syria: Hopes for better future, says UNICEF official after visit

A total of 7.5 million children in Syria now need humanitarian assistance, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Today, Ted Chaiban, the UN agency’s deputy chief of humanitarian aid, reported on his recent visit.

“During my five-day visit to Syria, I engaged with the caretaker authorities, communities, UN country team, partners, parents and children in Damascus, Aleppo and Idlib. 

A clear message emerged: there is hope for a better future, but to pave a solid road to recovery and seize on this once-in-a-generation opportunity there must be immense, coordinated efforts at both national and international levels.

© UNICEF/Aldhaher

From the outset, the authorities and international partners need to prioritise an inclusive transitional period that addresses the vast challenges stemming from over a decade of relentless conflict, which has left many cities, villages and critical infrastructure in ruins and millions of people displaced.

The children of Syria must remain at the heart of every effort. Their future is on the line. Together, let us seize this opportunity and act boldly to secure a brighter tomorrow for every child in Syria.”

Read his full statement here.

Today 12:03 π.μ.

Gaza: UN agencies call for keeping up aid flows

UN agencies on the ground in Gaza are voicing the need for the ceasefire to continue as they scramble to deliver lifesaving aid throughout the occupied territory. 

The World Food Programme (WFP) is working hard to get bakeries up and running as the ceasefire continues to hold and more aid is being delivered. Indeed, the current rhythm of supplies entering Gaza must be kept up.

“We must ensure this lifeline continues,” the UN agency said.

At the same time, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that families are seeing utter destruction and infrastructural collapse as they check in on their homes in north Gaza.

Multiple UNICEF trucks carrying essential supplies have already entered the area.

The ceasefire must be upheld and access must be maintained, the agency said on social media.

Children must ‘grow up in freedom’, France tells Council

Back in the Security Council, French Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière just highlighted figures from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), noting that “over 14,500 children have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war,” a figure exceeding child fatalities in wars around the world over four years. 

Recalling the principles of international humanitarian law and human rights law, he called for the ceasefire agreement to “put an end to the unacceptable suffering of Palestinian children and that of civilians”.

The ambassador noted France’s ongoing humanitarian efforts, including medical evacuation operations recently conducted in collaboration with the EU and the World Health Organization (WHO) to bring Palestinian patients to France.

© UNRWA

Turning to 7 October, he condemned Hamas for taking Israeli children hostage during the attacks and affirmed “we will never forget the suffering weathered by Israeli children.” 

The French representative called on all parties to ensure the release of hostages, including two French nationals, and to enable the massive entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. 

Addressing the long-term future of the region, he stressed the need for the Palestinian Authority to return to administer the territory, for Hamas to never set foot in Gaza again and for Israel to facilitate the process. 23 Ιαν 2025  11:40 μ.μ.

Lebanon: UN forces support Lebanese Armed Forces

As the Security Council continues to meet on the conditions facing Palestinian children, our colleagues in Lebanon are reporting that UN forces are working closely with the national armed forces as the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire holds.

UNIFIL, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, is operating in the buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon. They are monitoring the Blue Line, including the airspace above it and through coordination, liaising and patrolling to prevent violations and reporting all violations to the Security Council. 

Watch the latest video here:

Read our explainer on Security Council resolution 1701, which outlines UNIFIL’s mandate, here.

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