UNRWA Situation Report #172 on the Humanitarian Crisis in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. All information updated for 15 - 22 May 2025

Highlights

• On 13 May, in an interview to the BBC, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated that humanitarian aid including food is being used as a weapon of war, which could be qualified as a war crime by the ICJ. He added that “there is absolutely no doubt that we are talking about massive atrocities” unfolding in the Gaza Strip, that “could end up to genocide”.
• Since the collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza on the night between 17 and 18 March 2025, intense Israeli Forces activities escalated, resulting in tens of thousands of civilians killed and injured, further damage and destruction to civilian infrastructure, and new waves of forced displacement.
• Humanitarian aid and supplies have not entered the Gaza Strip for over ten weeks now (since 2 March 2025), when the Israeli authorities imposed a siege. As a result, basic humanitarian supplies, including food, fuel, medical aid and vaccines for children, are rapidly running out; UNRWA flour and food parcels have run out and over one third of essential medical supplies are already out of stock. This is having a devastating impact on the population, particularly on vulnerable groups including children, women and the elderly.
• On 12 May, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Acute Food Insecurity and Acute Malnutrition Special Snapshot concerning the period between April - September 2025 highlighted that the entire population of the Gaza Strip continues facing a critical risk of Famine. For the projection period, from 11 May to 30 September 2025, the whole Gaza Strip is classified with Crisis-level food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), including over a million people – or 54 per cent of the population – in the Emergency phase (IPC Phase 4), and nearly 470,000 people – or 22 per cent of the population – facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 5).
• Briefing the UN Security Council on 13 May, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, stated that “Israel is deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”, and asked “for those killed and those whose voices are silenced: what more evidence do you need now? Will you act – decisively – to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law?”

Key points

The Gaza Strip

• Since the night between 17 and 18 March, the Israeli Forces have escalated bombardments from air, land and sea across the Gaza Strip and expanded ground operations, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and large-scale displacement. Hospitals continue to be hit, alongside residential buildings, schools, and tents where forcibly displaced people live. According to OCHA, fighting between the Israeli Forces and Palestinian armed groups has been reported.
• On 12 May, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Acute Food Insecurity and Acute Malnutrition Special Snapshot concerning the period between April - September 2025 highlighted that the entire population of the Gaza Strip continues facing a critical risk of famine following 19 months of conflict, mass displacement and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid. Half a million people (or one out of five people) are facing starvation. Overall, the latest data indicate a deteriorating trend that is expected to persist. For the projection period, from 11 May to 30 September 2025, the whole Gaza Strip is classified with Crisis-level food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), including over a million people – or 54 per cent of the population – in the Emergency phase (IPC Phase 4), and nearly 470,000 people – or 22 per cent of the population – facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 5). Nearly 71,000 children under the age of five are expected to be acutely malnourished over the next 11 months (May 2025-April 2026). Of these, 14,100 cases are expected to be severe. In addition, nearly 17,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women also require treatment for acute malnutrition during this period.
• According to OCHA, in April, Nutrition Cluster partners screened close to 60,000 children and identified 2,500 cases of acute malnutrition, including 169 with severe acute malnutrition. Compared to February 2025, the proportion of children identified with acute malnutrition out of those screened almost doubled, indicating a deteriorating nutrition situation in the Gaza Strip. The worsening trend is confirmed by the number of children admitted for treatment: 27 children with severe acute malnutrition with medical complications were admitted in April to three stabilization centers, compared to 14 cases in March. Due to the siege imposed by the Israeli authorities on 2 March, specialized nutrition supplements for the prevention of malnutrition are being depleted, with humanitarian actors reporting them already out of stock.
• On 13 May, in an interview to the BBC, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated that humanitarian aid including food is being used as a weapon of war, which could be qualified as a war crime by the ICJ. He added that “there is absolutely no doubt that we are talking about massive atrocities” unfolding in the Gaza Strip, that “could end up to genocide”.
• Briefing the UN Security Council on 13 May, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, stated that “Israel is deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” He added that “the Israeli-designed distribution modality is not the answer” for Israel to comply to its obligations under international humanitarian law, as “It practically excludes many, including people with disabilities, women, children, the elderly, the wounded. It forces further displacement. It exposes thousands of people to harm. It sets an unacceptable precedent for aid delivery not just in the OPT, but around the world. It restricts aid to only one part of Gaza, while leaving other dire needs unmet. It makes aid conditional on political and military aims. It makes starvation a bargaining chip. It is a cynical sideshow. A deliberate distraction. A fig leaf for further violence and displacement.” Addressing the Security Council, Tom Fletcher asked “for those killed and those whose voices are silenced: what more evidence do you need now? Will you act – decisively – to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law?”
• In an overview covering the period between 7 October 2023 and 7 May 2025, WHO reported 686 health attacks in the Gaza Strip, affecting 122 health facilities – including 33 hospitals damaged – and 180 ambulances. According to WHO, 910 people have been killed in these attacks, and 1,380 injured.
• On 2 March, the Israeli authorities announced a siege, no longer allowing humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip, including fuel. No supplies – humanitarian or commercial – have entered for more than ten weeks now. UNRWA flour and food parcels have run out and over one third of essential medical supplies are already out of stock.
• UNRWA medical services are critically under-resourced. Forty-one per cent of essential supplies are already out of stock and over one fourth (27 per cent) are projected to run out in under two months.
• All UNRWA international staff are now banned from entering the Gaza Strip. This follows the passage of two bills by Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on 28 October 2024[2], which aim to prohibit UNRWA’s operations in the occupied Palestinian territory and bar any contact between UNRWA and Israeli officials. Meanwhile, around 12,000 local, Palestinian UNRWA personnel in Gaza continue to provide services and assistance to an entire population in need, while spearheading the collective humanitarian response. In the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem, over 4,000 UNRWA staff continue to provide education and health services to Palestine Refugees.
• With at least 23 displacement orders issued by the Israeli military since 18 March, about 146 square kilometres of the Gaza Strip are now under active displacement orders (the total area of the Gaza Strip is approximately 365 square kilometres). According to OCHA, over two thirds (or 71 per cent) of the Gaza Strip are within the Israeli-militarized zone, under displacement orders, or where these overlap. OCHA reports that, by governorate, 100 per cent of Rafah is a no-go zone or a displacement area, followed by 84 per cent of North Gaza, 78 per cent of Gaza, 51 per cent of Khan Younis and 41 per cent of Deir al Balah. The UN estimates that around 436,000 people have been displaced yet again since the breakdown of the ceasefire.
• On 13 May, the Israeli Forces issued a displacement order impacting Jabalia, An Nuzhah, Tal Az-Za'atar, and As-Salam areas, in northern Gaza. Twenty-six UNRWA installations are located in the affected area.
• A total of 132 UNRWA installations are located within the Israeli-militarized zone, under displacement orders, or where these overlap.
• Despite the siege and existing challenges, UNRWA continues providing services to communities overwhelmed by over 1.5 years of bombardment, forced displacement, and lack of critical resources. However, the resumed bombardment and the siege banning entry of basic supplies are further deteriorating an already dire situation, impacting the humanitarian actors’ ability to respond to the food, water, sanitation, shelter, and other needs of the population.
• According to the UN, at least 1.9 million people – or about 90 per cent of the population – across the Gaza Strip have been displaced during the war. Many have been displaced repeatedly, some 10 times or more. Since the recent displacement orders were issued, more people have been forced to flee in search of safety.
• Between 7 October 2023 and 14 May 2025, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza, as stated by OCHA, at least 52,928 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Gaza and 119,846 have been injured.
• Nearly 300 UNRWA team members have been killed since 7 October 2023.
• OCHA reported that, of the 53 planned aid movements coordinated with Israeli authorities across Gaza from 7 to 13 May 2025, 31 were denied, one was initially accepted but faced impediments, one cancelled, and 20 facilitated. Overall, of the 109 planned aid movements coordinated with Israeli authorities across the Gaza Strip between 1 and 13 May, 69 were denied, five impeded, three withdrawn, and 32 facilitated.
• Forcibly displaced people seek refuge in a destroyed UNRWA school-turned-shelter in Jabalia, north Gaza, the Gaza Strip, May 2025. © 2025 UNRWA photo

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

• According to OCHA, between 7 October 2023 and 9 May 2025, 930 Palestinians – including at least 196 children – were killed in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Of those, 124 Palestinians, including at least 23 children, were killed only since the beginning of 2025.
• On 8 May, heavily armed Israeli Forces personnel forcibly entered three UNRWA schools in Shu’fat Camp, East Jerusalem, with the intent to enforce the illegal closure orders issued on 8 April 2025. The Israeli Forces harassed UNRWA teachers and detained one other UNRWA personnel, ordering them to dismiss the students. As a result, UNRWA evacuated all children across the six UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem, leaving nearly 800 students out of school. Both UNRWA Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, and the Director of UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank, Roland Friedrich, released statements in response, noting that Israel’s actions to forcibly close the schools are a violation of its obligations as a UN Member State under international law. On 13 May, Israeli Forces again returned to the UNRWA schools in Shu’fat Camp, in a clear attempt to verify that no educational activities were taking place. As the schools were empty, they left after a few minutes.
• The Israeli Forces operation in the northern West Bank that started on 21 January 2025 continues, with explosive detonations of buildings reported in Al Manshiya neighbourhood in Nur Shams Camp on 8, 9 and 10 May. On 10 May, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected a petition to block the Israeli Forces from executing the demolition order issued on 1 May against 106 buildings in Nur Shams and Tulkarm camps.
• A Palestinian from Dura was shot and killed by the Israeli Forces at Al Fahs checkpoint in Hebron on 7 May after allegedly ramming and attempting to stab Israeli Forces personnel. The body was subsequently withheld, and the checkpoint was temporarily closed. The Israeli Forces then conducted a search operation in Dura, physically assaulting six family members of the alleged perpetrator and detaining four.
• One Palestinian was shot and killed and some 44 injured during an Israeli Forces search operation in the Nablus Old City on 8 May which erupted into an exchange of fire. Of the injuries, nine were injured by live ammunition, and 35 linked to the effects of tear gas inhalation. At least two Palestinians were subsequently detained by the Israeli Forces, and the body of the killed Palestinian was withheld.
• On 9 May, an exchange of fire took place between Palestinians and the Israeli Forces after the Israeli Forces surrounded a house in Masaken al Sha’abi neighbourhood east of Nablus and targeted it with Energa anti-tank grenades. Two Palestine Refugees were killed, among them a noted Palestinian armed actor, according to media reports. Ambulances were reportedly prevented from reaching the scene.
• On 13 May, two Palestinians were killed with live ammunition by Palestinian Security Forces: one in El Far’a Camp, and one in the eastern neighbourhood of Jenin. Both fatalities occurred in the context of Palestinian Security Forces operations in these areas.

Overall situation

The Gaza Strip

• Between 7 October 2023 and 14 May 2025, according to the MoH in Gaza as stated by OCHA, at least 52,928 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in the Gaza Strip while 119,846 have been reported injured.

Humanitarian access, protection of civilians

• UNRWA is working to verify the details of incidents that reportedly impact UNRWA premises. Further information will be provided once it becomes available*.
• During the reporting period, two armed-conflict-related incidents have reportedly impacted UNRWA installations, personnel, and displaced people sheltering there:
  • On 10 May, an UNRWA school was reportedly directly struck by an Israeli Forces airstrike in Gaza City, causing moderate damage.
  • On 9 May, an UNRWA Office was reportedly directly struck twice by Israeli Forces airstrikes in Jabalia, resulting in its complete destruction. Three nearby UNRWA installations – a distribution centre, a non-food items store and a health centre – sustained moderate to severe damage due to the impact of the airstrikes. No injuries were reported among UNRWA personnel.

As of 13 May 2025, 842* incidents impacting UNRWA premises and the people inside them have been reported since the beginning of the war. 311* UNRWA installations have been impacted by armed conflict-related incidents since the beginning of the war, with some installations impacted multiple times. UNRWA estimates that, in total, at least 767* persons sheltering in UNRWA installations have been killed and at least 2,419* injured since the start of the war. UNRWA continues to verify and update the number of casualties caused by these incidents.

*Since the start of the war in October 2023, the latest casualty figures are continuously under review as UNRWA gains access to locations that were previously inaccessible and as further verifications occur. The summary figures will be published/updated as information becomes available, noting that these numbers are subject to change once verifications are concluded.

The Gaza Strip

Health

• According to the Health Cluster, UNRWA remains one of the largest health actors operating in the Gaza Strip, contributing to over half of the people reached with health services since 7 October 2023. Between 7 October 2023 and 4 May 2025, UNRWA provided nearly 8.5 million medical consultations across the Gaza Strip.
• In addition to medical consultations, UNRWA (in partnership with and supported by other UN agencies, including UNICEF and WHO) continued to vaccinate children. Over 275,000 routine vaccines have been given to children from January 2024.
• In addition, around 560,000 children under the age of 10 across the Gaza Strip were vaccinated against polio in the first two rounds of the campaign in 2024. A third round of the polio vaccination campaign supported by UNRWA, WHO, UNICEF and other partners took place between 22 and 26 February 2025 in the Gaza Strip, reaching over 600,000 children under the age of 10 with this critical vaccine. With over 1,700 personnel organized in 555 mobile and fixed teams, UNRWA vaccinated over 213,000 children, constituting around one third of the overall polio vaccination response. A fourth round of the polio vaccination campaign was scheduled to start on 13 April but had to be postponed until further notice due to the continuous bombardment and displacement orders from the Israeli authorities, as well as the lack of sufficient vaccine due to the siege imposed by the Israeli authorities.
• During the ceasefire (19 January-17 March 2025), UNRWA health teams provided nearly 590,000 health consultations, over 40,000 maternal consultations including antenatal, post-natal and family planning care, over 24,400 dental and oral health consultations in fixed and mobile clinics, and around 10,500 physiotherapy rehabilitation services sessions.
• Since 18 March (when the ceasefire collapsed) and until 11 May, UNRWA health teams provided around 635,000 health consultations, over 42,000 maternal consultations including antenatal, post-natal and family planning care, nearly 23,000 dental and oral health consultations in fixed and mobile clinics, and over 14,000 physiotherapy rehabilitation services sessions.
• As of 11 May, only six out of 22 UNRWA health centres and three additional UNRWA-rented facilities used as temporary health centres were operational in Gaza. In addition, health services are provided through 123 mobile medical teams working in 37 medical points inside and outside shelters in the middle area, Khan Younis, Al Mawasi, Gaza City and north Gaza. UNRWA health facilities provide primary health care, including outpatient services, non-communicable disease care, giving out medications, vaccination, antenatal and postnatal health care, laboratory and dental services, physiotherapy and dressings for the injured. The number of operational health facilities changes constantly based on demand, access and security. Between 5 and 11 May, an average of around 1,250 UNRWA health personnel worked in UNRWA health centres, temporary clinics and medical points across the Gaza Strip, providing 95,533 health consultations during the reporting period.
• Between 5 and 11 May, an average of around 1,250 UNRWA health personnel worked in UNRWA health centres, temporary clinics and medical points across the Gaza Strip, providing 95,533 health consultations during the reporting period.
• UNRWA continued to provide mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services in Gaza City, the middle and Khan Younis areas, with teams of psychiatrists, psychosocial counsellors and supervisors to assist special cases referred from UNRWA health centres and shelters. Between 5 and 11 May, UNRWA teams responded to 3,697 cases in health centres and at medical points through individual consultations, awareness sessions and to address cases of gender-based violence (GBV).
• Between 5 and 11 May, UNRWA medical teams provided 6,770 consultations for post-natal and pregnant women at high risk, 3,563 dental and oral health consultations in fixed and mobile clinics, and 2,761 physiotherapy rehabilitation services sessions in health centres and medical points. Medical services are critically under-resourced, with 41 per cent of essential supplies already out of stock, and almost one third (27 per cent) projected to run out in under two months.

Psychosocial Support and Learning

• Following the collapse of the ceasefire (on 18 March), the number of active Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) has declined and currently stands at 281. As a result, the number of children has significantly decreased. Between 5 and 11 May 2025, 38,422 children (16,959 boys, 21,463 girls, including 1,404 children with disabilities) participated in basic literacy and numeracy activities, PSS sessions and recreational activities including arts, music and sports.
• UNRWA remains the largest provider of emergency learning and psychosocial support (PSS) across the Gaza Strip. Around 660,000 children are out of school due to the war. On 1 January 2025, UNRWA launched a new distance learning programme, combining online with onsite learning. The first cycle of distance learning, conducted from 1 January to 31 March 2025, successfully provided education services to 277,716 children (146,794 boys, 130,922 girls). The second cycle began on 22 April 2025 and is scheduled to run until 15 July 2025. To date, 287,889 children (149,465 boys and 138,424 girls) have enrolled in the programme, receiving basic learning services from thousands of teachers in core subjects including Arabic, English, mathematics, and science.
• UNRWA continues to provide lifesaving PSS services in Gaza. Since the onset of the war and up to 4 May 2025, around 730,000 displaced people, including over 520,000 children, have benefited from 297,704 PSS sessions and activities. Between 5 and 11 May, a total of 10,893 displaced people accessed these services.
• Between 7 October 2023 and 11 May 2025, UNRWA’s social work team provided services to 220,670 displaced people, including psychological first aid, PSS services, family and individual activities, as well as case management. During the same reporting period, protection services were provided to 2,562 survivors of GBV and 3,688 children, including 1,766 unaccompanied children. The team also supported 24,672 persons with disabilities with PSS; 7,753 of these individuals received assistive devices and rehabilitation services. Awareness sessions on GBV, child protection, disability and special needs, as well as managing social and psychological stressors, were conducted for 164,786 displaced people.

Food Security

• Since 7 October 2023 and until the start of the ceasefire (19 January 2025), over 388,000 families (nearly 1.9 million people) have been reached with two rounds of flour; at least 374,000 of those families have received three rounds.
• Up until the start of the ceasefire, at least 1.7 million people were reached with food parcels, of whom at least 215,000 people received two rounds of food parcels since the war started. These include[3] rice, lentils, beans, oil, salt, sugar, milk powder, hummus, halawa, yeast, and canned fish, and are designed to meet the needs of a family of five for two weeks.
• In addition to the distribution of UNRWA food parcels, the Agency has distributed food parcels on behalf of other UN organisations, having reached over 1.4 million people before the start of the ceasefire.
• During the ceasefire, UNRWA reached over 2 million people with critical food assistance. However, due to the siege imposed by the Israeli authorities since 2 March, UNRWA is now completely out of flour and food parcels and therefore forced to halt food distributions.
• Between 1 March and 19 April 2025, UNRWA distributed nearly 270,000 bags of flour, reaching an estimated 88,000 families – or over 700,000 people. Since the ceasefire collapsed and until 8 April, only around 15,500 families (or an estimated 77,500 people) have received UNRWA food parcels.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

• Since October 2023, UNRWA has carried out emergency WASH activities across the Gaza Strip. The main activities include operating and maintaining water wells and desalination systems and supplying water with water trucks and bottled water. In addition, UNRWA continues to distribute hygiene kits and maintain hygiene in UNRWA shelters and sites through cleaning supplies, community-based solid waste management and pest control.
• On a daily basis, UNRWA teams provide an average of 3 million litres of water and collect over 200 tons of solid waste. In Gaza overall, UNRWA contributes to 29 per cent of the water sector, 75 per cent of the sanitation sector, 57 per cent of the hygiene sector, and 39 per cent of the solid waste management sector.
• UNRWA water provision and solid waste collection translates into assistance for up to around 420,000 people monthly.
• Between 1 and 14 May, UNRWA teams provided around 30,000 cubic metres of domestic and potable water to displaced people across the Gaza Strip, in addition to around 20,000 pills and chlorination tablets.
• During the same reporting period, three small water wells inside UNRWA shelters in northern Gaza (one in North Gaza and two in Gaza city) have been drilled by WASH partners, allowing UNRWA to reach additional 24,000 displaced people.
• UNRWA continues to provide solid waste collection and transfer services wherever possible. Between 1 and 14 May, around 2,300 tons of solid waste have been collected by UNRWA sanitation teams and transferred to designated temporary dumping sites. Moreover, UNRWA teams cleaned 207 manholes, serving over 37,200 displaced people in different locations across the Gaza Strip.
• During the same reporting period, the team conducted 98 hygiene awareness sessions, 80 cleaning campaigns in different locations benefitting around 38,000 people, and 29 pest and rodent control campaigns in southern Gaza, benefiting over 32,000 people. Due to the ongoing siege, the stock of pesticides in southern Gaza is expected to run out soon, while it has already run out in the middle areas and North Gaza.

Quote from Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General:

“Starvation is spreading, people are exhausted and hungry. More and more now, if no aid comes in, we can expect in the coming weeks that people will not just die because of bombardment, but also because of the lack of food.”