UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING

18 March 2025

Situation in Gaza

Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), stated that the UN Secretary-General was shocked by the Israeli overnight airstrikes in Gaza, in which a meaningful number of civilians had been killed. The Secretary-General strongly appealed for the ceasefire to be respected, for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to be reestablished and for the remaining hostages to be released unconditionally. (See statement)

Mr. Gómez also quoted Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), who had posted: “Awful scenes of civilians killed among them children following waves of heavy bombardment from Israeli Forces overnight. Fueling “hell on earth” by resuming the war will only bring more despair & suffering. A return to the ceasefire is a must.” He quoted Hadi Muhannad, Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, who stated that waves of airstrikes had been occurring across the Gaza Strip since the early hours of the morning. Initial and unconfirmed reports indicated that hundreds had been killed, which was unconscionable. A ceasefire had to be reinstated immediately. People in Gaza had endured unimaginable suffering. An end to hostilities, sustained humanitarian assistance, release of the hostages and the restoration of basic services and people’s livelihoods, were the only way forward.

Thameen Al-Kheetan, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that the High Commissioner was horrified by the Israeli airstrikes and shelling in Gaza, which had killed hundreds, according to the Ministry of Health. The last 18 months of violence had made abundantly clear that there was no military path out of this crisis. The only way forward was a political settlement, in line with international law. Israel’s resort to yet more military force would only heap further misery upon a Palestinian population already suffering catastrophic conditions. The High Commissioner stressed that this nightmare had to end immediately. The hostages and all those arbitrarily detained had to be released immediately and unconditionally. The war had to end permanently. OHCHR urged all parties with influence to do all in their power to achieve peace and avoid further suffering of civilians.

Ajith Sunghay, Head of UN Human Rights (OHCHR) for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, speaking from Amman, said that Palestinian authorities reported that over 350 people had been killed in the renewed attacks overnight. He reminded that at least 106 Palestinians had been killed since the start of the ceasefire on 19 January until the previous day. The Israeli military had issued a displacement order for several parts of Gaza, repeating an action which had earlier led to the displacement of as many as 90 percent of Palestinians in Gaza, and which was unacceptable. For over two weeks now, Israel had stopped all crossings and prevented any humanitarian aid or fuel from entering the Gaza Strip. How long before all food ran out and starvation started once again? OHCHR reminded Israel of its obligations under international law. Any targeting of civilians not directly involved in hostilities was a war crime and had to stop immediately. Use of starvation as a means of war also had to stop immediately. Hostages and those arbitrarily detained had to be released without delay, stressed Mr. Sunghay.

Tommaso Della Longa, for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), provided an update from Gaza, sharing the information received from the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRC). PRC teams had responded to 150 fatalities and over 170 injured people. Medical facilities were overwhelmed. There were shortages of fuel and materiel. There were also shortages of medical supplies and medicines in health facilities. No fuel or aid had entered Gaza since the beginning of March, reminded Mr. Della Longa. PRC teams were working to better assess the impact of the latest strikes. IFRC reiterated its call on all parties to reinstate the ceasefire, protect civilians, and protect humanitarian workers, including those of Red Cross and Red Crescent, and allow unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid and fuel, and unconditionally release all remaining hostages.

Responding to questions from the journalists, Mr. Della Longa, for the IFRC, said that the information from the PRC as of 7 am today showed there were 150 fatalities and 179 injured people. Health facilities in Gaza were overwhelmed, he reiterated. As the situation was very fluid, it was difficult to provide exact numbers of casualties, added Mr. Gómez, for UNIS. Tarik Jašarević, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that there was s shortage of medicine as no aid had been allowed in since 2 March. WHO had 16 trucks with medical supplies ready to enter Gaza, for which ceasefire and access were needed.

Mr. Sunghay, for the OHCHR, on another question, said that the OHCHR had already raised concerns over Israel’s indiscriminate bombings and use of 2,000 lb bombs. Crimes committed by Hamas on 7 October 2023 were unacceptable, as repeatedly stated by the OHCHR, but what Israel had been doing since then was also unacceptable and in violation of international law.

The ceasefire had provided a critical lifeline for those who had suffered through the 17-month long conflict, stressed Mr. Gómez. Whether the ceasefire was still in place or not was up to the parties to the conflict to announce, added Mr. Sunghay. The OHCHR office had not been informed by the Israeli authorities of the intention to resume strikes on Gaza. The High Commissioner had repeatedly urged all parties to stick to the ceasefire, and on all Member States to do what was within their powers to ensure that the ceasefire continued. What had happened the previous night was another sign that international human rights and international humanitarian law were once again being disregarded. Mr. Sunghay explained that the OHCHR had for a while been referring to an “escalation” of conflict between Israel and Palestine.

New report on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Thameen Al-Kheetan, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), stated that in 2024, the Government of Israel had ratcheted up settlement of the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, transferring its own population into the territory and unlawfully demolishing Palestinian homes, while settler violence had increased in a climate of continuing impunity, showed a new OHCHR report.

Israel’s settlement policy, its acts of annexation, and related discriminatory legislation and measures were in breach of international law, as the International Court of Justice had confirmed, and violated Palestinians’ right to self-determination. Covering the period from 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024, the report detailed significant expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Steps had been taken towards implementing plans to construct over 20,000 housing units in new or existing Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem alone, according to Israeli non-governmental organisations, while 214 Palestinian properties and structures had been demolished in East Jerusalem. Over 10,300 units within existing Israeli settlements in the rest of the West Bank were in the pipeline and an unprecedented 49 new Israeli outposts had been established.

The OHCHR also pointed to “a climate of revenge” and violence across the West Bank. During the reporting period, a total of 612 Palestinians had been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, by Israeli security forces and settlers. Twenty-four Israelis had also been killed in alleged attacks or clashes with Palestinians. The current climate had further empowered Israeli settlers to attack Palestinians, force them from their homes and seize their land. The line between settler and state violence had blurred. Mr. Al-Kheetan stressed that Israel had to abide by the International Court of Justice’s ruling and cease immediately all new settlement activities, evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory and make reparations for the damage caused by decades of illegal settlement.

Ajith Sunghay, Head of UN Human Rights (OHCHR) for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, speaking from Amman, said that in the West Bank, settlements were expanding at a worrying speed, expanding Israeli sovereignty and displacing Palestinians of their homes and land. An ever-expanding Israeli military operation had so far killed 59 Palestinians, displaced tens of thousands and upended many lives. Settler violence could no longer be separated from state violence. The occupation of the Palestinian territory had to end as soon as possible, and all Israeli settlers had to be evacuated. The international community had an obligation to prevent an annexation and secure the Palestinian path to statehood.

Full report can be accessed here.

Cyprus talks

Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that the Secretary-General was in Geneva to convene an informal meeting on Cyprus. The meeting was taking place in the context of the SG’s good offices, on which information had been shared. There was no confirmation whether he would hold a press encounter, and the media would be informed if that was the case. After leaving Geneva, the SG would head to Brussels to meet with the European Union leaders.

He further informed that Ersin Tatar, Turkish Cypriot Leader, would hold a press conference in the Press Room at 3:30 pm today.

Announcements

Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), informed that on 19 March, the WMO would issue its State of Global Climate 2024 report, one of its flagship publications. 2024 had already been confirmed as the hottest year on record, and this report would provide details on climate indicators, and the impact of such weather on economies and lifestyles. An embargoed technical briefing would be held at 3 pm today. On 28 March, the WMO would present its State of the Climate report on Latin America and the Caribbean.

21 March would be the world’s first Glaciers Day, reminded Ms. Nullis, while 23 March would be the World Meteorological Day. Events would be held in Paris and New York on the Glaciers Day.

Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), reminded of the statement from the previous day, in which the UN expressed concern about the continued threats by the Houthis to resume their attacks targeting merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, as well as about their reported attacks against military vessels in the area. The Secretary-General called for full freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

On 19 March at 1 pm, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine would present its latest report in a press conference.

On 20 March at 10:30 am, the Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus would hold a press conference to present its new report.

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities would hold on 21 March a day of general discussion on article 29 of the Convention, concerning participation in political and public life. Further information can be found here.

The Committee on Enforced Disappearances was having this morning a dialogue with Serbia and would begin in the afternoon the review of the report of The Gambia. All the information is available here.

Finally, today the Human Rights Council was holding a joint interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mai Sato, to be followed by an interactive dialogue with the Independent International Commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic and an interactive dialogue with the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and, time permitting, and interactive dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.

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