Air strikes targeting residential areas in Gaza, and shootings and attacks in the West Bank

In one of the incidents documented by the office, before dawn on Monday, a Palestinian family was trapped inside their home while Israeli settlers set fire to vehicles parked outside. This incident occurred in the village of Nahalin, near Bethlehem, where the neighbors were able to put out the fire and save the family.

United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at the daily press conference “Incidents such as these are becoming more frequent and place systematic pressure on Palestinians to leave their homes and communities. They also result in deaths, injuries, damage and displacement, exacerbating humanitarian needs.”.

Dujarric reminded all parties of the need to provide protection for civilians at all times, adding that in law enforcement contexts, the use of lethal force must be a last resort. He said that the perpetrators of these unlawful attacks must be held accountable.

Restrictions on humanitarian organizations

The UN spokesman expressed concern about the restrictions imposed on UN humanitarian operations. He stated that international non-governmental organizations today confirmed their intention to move forward with submitting a petition to the Israeli Supreme Court to challenge the new Israeli registration system, which imposes further restrictions on their ability to work, not only inside Israel, but also in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Dujarric said: “As we have repeatedly stated, NGOs play a vital role in the humanitarian response.”.

He explained that in the occupied Palestinian territory, international non-governmental organizations – collectively – provide assistance worth about one billion dollars annually.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that onerous registration requirements are one of several measures that undermine the population’s ability to access humanitarian services.

Dujarric stressed the need for the Israeli authorities to allow humanitarian aid to pass and facilitate its passage quickly and without any obstacles, as well as to reverse policies that obstruct humanitarian operations, and ensure that humanitarian organizations are able to work without compromising humanitarian principles.