UNRWA Situation Report #176 on the Humanitarian Crisis in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. All information updated for 12 - 18 June 2025

Highlights

• 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 reportedly killed and injured, further damage and destruction to civilian infrastructure, and new waves of forced displacement.
• According to OCHA, people are confined to ever-shrinking spaces, with 82.4 per cent of the Gaza Strip now within the Israeli-militarized zone, under displacement orders, or where these overlap. The UN estimates that over 680,000 people have been displaced yet again since the breakdown of the ceasefire, including over 242,000 between 15 May and 17 June.
• According to the latest FAO-WFP Hunger Hotspots report, the risk of famine in the Gaza Strip is becoming increasingly likely due to the ongoing military operations, forced displacement, and severe limitations imposed on the humanitarian response. The Nutrition Cluster also warned that rates of acute malnutrition have sharply increased among children aged six to 59 months across all governorates.
• Mass casualties among people trying to access food supplies continue being reported. On 17 June, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini posted on X (previously known as Twitter) that “It is now the new routine to shoot and kill desperate and starving people while they try to collect little food from a company made of mercenaries”, adding that “Inviting people to their death is a war crime.”
• The fuel crisis in the Gaza Strip has reached deeply worrisome levels. Humanitarian organisations warn that without the immediate entry of fuel, lifesaving and life-sustaining services are at risk of shutting down imminently.
• OCHA reported that, on 16 and 17 June, a fiber optic cable cut along the Khan Younis route caused a complete internet connectivity outage and the disruption of mobile services in southern and central Gaza.
• The health response in the Gaza Strip continues to face severe operational challenges, including extensive damage to health facilities, obstacles to safe movements and restrictions on the entry of medical supplies and critical fuel. UNRWA medical services are critically under-resourced, with nearly half of medical supplies already out of stock and over one fifth projected to run out in less than two months.
• Since the escalation between Iran and Israel started on 13 June, missile debris and interceptor shrapnel in the West Bank have fallen inside the premises of at least two UNRWA schools and one UNRWA training centre in Ramallah and Qalqiliya, without causing injuries.
• Mass demolitions have continued in the northern West Bank, with bulldozing of buildings occurring in Jenin and Tulkarm camps, in execution of mass demolition orders previously issued by Israeli Forces, including those of 1 May (for Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps) and 9 June (for Jenin Camp).

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 reported casualties, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and large-scale displacement. People are living in inhumane conditions, seeking shelter anywhere they can, including damaged or destroyed buildings, overcrowded displacement sites, and open areas. According to OCHA, fighting between the Israeli Forces and Palestinian armed groups has been reported.

• Since 19 May, after almost 80 days of siege on the entry of aid and any other supplies into the Gaza Strip – including food, medicine and fuel, the Israeli authorities have allowed only a select number of UN agencies and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to resume the delivery of limited aid into Gaza. However, the entry of aid has remained challenging. OCHA reported that among the limited number of trucks that were collected from crossing points for distribution inside Gaza since the total siege was lifted, only a small fraction was delivered to the intended destinations due to obstacles to humanitarian aid delivery. UNRWA has not been able to bring in any supplies for more than three months (since 2 March). No fuel has been allowed into Gaza since 2 March.

• According to OCHA, humanitarian actors have managed to bring in around 9,000 metric tons (MT) of wheat flour into Gaza as of 16 June, equivalent to 360,000 25-kilogramme bags. However, most of this aid has been offloaded by civilians in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, and, in some cases, seized by armed actors, before reaching their intended destinations.

• The latest Market Monitor published by the World Food Programme highlighted that prices of the very limited and still available food items in Gaza continue to increase at an alarming rate, with the population suffering from a further deteriorated diet, severely deficient in essential nutrients. The WFP reported that the dietary diversity is now collapsing to its lowest level since the beginning of the conflict, adding that cooking gas, diesel and gasoline remain largely unavailable and can only be found in small quantities on the black market for very high prices.

• According OCHA, mass casualties continue being reported among people attempting to access food in the Gaza Strip, including as they approach or gather at militarized distribution points in Rafah and Deir al-Balah or wait for trucks carrying UN aid supplies. According to OCHA, as of 17 June, the Gaza Ministry of Health reported that 397 people were killed and at least 3,031 injured trying to access food supplies.

• On 17 June, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini posted on X (previously known as Twitter) that “It is now the new routine to shoot and kill desperate and starving people while they try to collect little food from a company made of mercenaries”, adding that “Inviting people to their death is a war crime.”

• According to the latest FAO-WFP Hunger Hotspots report, the risk of famine in the Gaza Strip is becoming increasingly likely due to the ongoing military operations, forced displacement, and severe limitations imposed on the humanitarian response. The analysis highlights that, over a year and a half into the conflict, approximately 80 per cent of cropland in the Gaza Strip had been damaged and around 83 per cent of agricultural wells rendered inoperative. This was coupled with extensive losses in agricultural and fishing capacity, that are expected to further constrain food supply availability throughout 2025.

• The Nutrition Cluster warned that rates of acute malnutrition have sharply increased among children aged six to 59 months across all governorates. According to OCHA, between March and May, proxy rates of acute malnutrition have more than doubled: in Gaza city the rates multiplied by 1.7, in Khan Younis by 2.2, in Deir al Balah by 2.8, and in North Gaza by 2. No data is currently available for Rafah due to active displacement orders.

• The restrictions on the entry of fuel – now entering its fourth month, continue placing life-sustaining services at a severe risk. Humanitarian actors including UNRWA are implementing strict ration measures with, but critical health and WASH services are at risk of shutting down if the entry of fuel is not urgently allowed.

• OCHA reported that, on 16 and 17 June, a fiber optic cable cut along the Khan Younis route caused a complete internet connectivity outage and the disruption of mobile services in southern and central Gaza. Although repairs on 16 June enabled the temporary restoration of connectivity services in the area, data speed remained limited. Another subsequent fiber optic cable cut on 17 June, which is yet to be repaired, has left Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah without access to mobile, landline and internet services. The telecommunications service providers warn that without the immediate supply of fuel and engine oil to operate generators of key infrastructure, communications services are expected to shut down imminently. This could lead to a complete collapse of telecommunications and internet services across Gaza.

• The health response in the Gaza Strip continues to face severe operational challenges, including extensive damage to health facilities, obstacles to safe movements and restrictions on the entry of medical supplies and critical fuel. UNRWA medical services are critically under-resourced. Nearly half (or 49 per cent) of essential medical supplies are already out of stock and over one fifth (21 per cent) are projected to run out in under two months. The affected supplies include medicine for non-communicable diseases, antimicrobials and antiparasitic products, dermatological and eyes preparations, analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications, gastrointestinal products, respiratory medications, and family planning methods.

• All UNRWA international staff are banned from entering the Gaza Strip since the few remaining left at the end of March. This follows the passage of two laws by Israel’s parliament, (The Knesset), on 28 October 2024[2], which aimed to prohibit UNRWA’s operations in “Israeli territory” and bar any contact between UNRWA and Israeli officials.

• Meanwhile, around 12,000 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 Palestinian local staff continue to provide education, health and other services to Palestine Refugees. No visas have been issued from the Government of Israel to UNRWA international staff since end of January 2025.

• With at least 42 displacement orders issued by the Israeli military since 18 March, about 279.5 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 four-fifths (or 82.4 per cent) of the Gaza Strip are within the Israeli-militarized zone, under displacement orders, or where these overlap. The UN estimates that over 680,000 people have been displaced yet again since the breakdown of the ceasefire (mid-March), including over 242,000 between 15 May and 17 June alone.

• Between 11 and 17 June, five displacement orders and one designated Israeli-militarized zones affecting UNRWA installations were issued by Israeli Forces.

  • On 17 June, the Israeli Forces issued a displacement order impacting areas of northwest Khan Younis (Al Jalaa, Hamad City and Qarara). Three UNRWA installations are located in the affected area.
  • On 14 June, the Israeli Forces issued a displacement order impacting Rafah, Khan Younis and Maghazi. Ninety-five UNRWA installations are located in the affected area.
  • On 14 June, the Israeli Forces issued a displacement order impacting Khan Younis. Twenty-one UNRWA installations are located in the affected area.
  • On 12 June, the Israeli Forces issued a displacement order impacting areas of north Gaza and Gaza City. Eight UNRWA installations are located in the affected area.
  • On 12 June, the Israeli Forces issued a displacement order impacting of Khan Younis. Twenty-one UNRWA installations are located in the affected area.

• At least 182 UNRWA installations – or over half of all UNRWA installations in the Gaza Strip – are located within the Israeli-militarized zone, under displacement orders, or where these overlap.

• Despite the lack of aid allowed into Gaza and existing challenges, UNRWA continues providing services to communities overwhelmed by over 20 months of bombardment, forced displacement, and lack of critical resources. However, the resumed bombardment and the 11-week-long siege, which completely banned entry of any basic supplies from UNRWA since 2 March, have further worsened an already dire situation, severely hindering humanitarian actors’ ability to respond to the population’s need for food, water, sanitation, shelter and more.

• 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 18 June 2025, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza, as stated by OCHA, at least 55,637 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Gaza and 129,880 have been injured.

• Since the war began 317 UNRWA team members have been confirmed killed.

• OCHA reported that, of the 100 planned aid movements coordinated with Israeli authorities across Gaza from 11 to 17 June 2025, 51 were denied, 12 were initially accepted but faced impediments, 14 withdrawn, and 23 facilitated. Overall, of the 239 planned aid movements coordinated with Israeli authorities across the Gaza Strip between 1 and 17 June, 123 were denied, 21 impeded, 32 withdrawn, and 63 facilitated.