West Bank – A UN-led delegation reviews the humanitarian impact of Israeli policies and settler violence

During the daily press conference in New York, UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said that the area that the delegation visited – like the rest of the areas of the West Bank – “It witnessed an escalation in settler violence and forced displacement.”

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that the delegation met with affected Palestinians in the Ain al-Bayda and al-Hadidiya communities in the northern Jordan Valley, and also visited the Hammamat al-Maleh area, which is “one of 45 communities that have been subjected to complete displacement since 2023 as a result of settler violence and restrictions imposed on freedom of movement and access,” according to Haq, who pointed out that more than 60% of displacement cases recorded in the Jordan Valley area are directly linked to settler attacks.

Haq said that the delegation visited forcibly abandoned homes, a demolished school, in addition to water springs seized by Israeli settlers. The delegation also heard testimonies from Palestinian shepherds who face repeated attacks, demolitions, and restrictions preventing their access to grazing lands.

He added: “Dr. Alakbarov called for solidarity and partnership to support people whose lives, lifestyles, and livelihoods are at risk. He also stressed the importance of helping vulnerable groups to remain in their areas of origin, and the need to achieve accountability for acts of violence, demolitions, and illegal exploitation of natural resources.”

Suffering continues in Gaza

Regarding the Gaza Strip, Haq indicated that there were reports of multiple incidents that included air strikes, artillery shelling, naval fire, and gunfire targeting residential areas, resulting in injuries and human losses during Saturday and Sunday. He mentioned “All parties agree that civilians and civilian facilities must always be protected.”

In a related context, raw sewage flooded residential neighborhoods in the city of Khan Yunis, following a power outage resulting from a shortage of lubricating oils needed to operate pumping station generators, according to what United Nations partners working in the sanitation sector reported.

Haq said this situation exacerbates the serious health and environmental risks that already exist in the region. He added: “Our partners stress the need to urgently allow essential supplies into Gaza – including motor oils and spare parts – as more vital facilities, including wells and water desalination plants, are at risk of being unable to operate.”