Khaled Khiari, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific, issued a stark warning to the Security Council on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
He stated that the fragile ceasefire situation in Gaza is experiencing a "steady deterioration," exacerbated by shifting global attention toward escalating hostilities across the broader Middle East.
According to Khiari, while diplomatic efforts continue to implement "Phase Two" of the comprehensive plan mandated by Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025), significant roadblocks remain. Most notably, negotiations regarding the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups have reached a standstill, sparking fears of a return to large-scale military conflict.
The Humanitarian Toll
"Civilians continue to bear the brunt of ongoing violence," Khiari told the Council, emphasizing that humanitarian needs on the ground remain "staggering." He urged the international community to move beyond emergency aid and prioritize early recovery and reconstruction plans.
Central to this recovery, he noted, is the empowerment of the "National Committee for the Management of Gaza" to assume governance and administrative duties, as outlined in the UN mandate.
Escalation in the West Bank
The UN official also highlighted a "concerning" surge in violence and displacement in the West Bank. He reported that between March 14 and April 16, Israeli authorities advanced plans for 1,080 new housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The human cost in the West Bank remains high, with 21 Palestinians—including six children—killed by Israeli forces or settlers during the same period. Khiari warned that rampant settler violence and settlement expansion are "eroding the prospects" for a viable two-state solution.
A Rare Glimmer of Hope
Despite the grim security outlook, Khiari pointed to a positive development on April 25, when Palestinians exercised their democratic rights by participating in local elections across most of the West Bank and in Deir al-Balah within the Gaza Strip.
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