Gaza Situation ‘Very Difficult’ Despite Ceasefire Progress: UN Official

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New York: A senior official from the United Nations Security Council has warned that conditions in Gaza remain ‘very, very difficult’, despite some improvements under the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement.

Speaking at a session on Palestine, Nickolay Mladenov said essential services are functioning at only a fraction of their pre-war capacity, with the healthcare system effectively collapsed and no viable economy in place.

He outlined three urgent priorities, starting with the need to keep the Rafah crossing open to allow movement in and out of Gaza. Any restrictions, he warned, would directly hinder progress toward the next phase of the ceasefire.

Mladenov also stressed that humanitarian aid entering Gaza remains insufficient for the scale of need, calling for an immediate increase in the number of trucks delivering supplies. While logistical systems are in place, he said, access remains a critical obstacle.

He further highlighted the need to accelerate temporary housing solutions, noting that more than two million people continue to endure extremely poor living conditions.

Emphasising the importance of the ceasefire framework, Mladenov described it as the only plan linking disarmament, reconstruction, civilian transition, and the reunification of Palestinian institutions into a single process.

“If we are serious about advancing peace between Israelis and Palestinians, then we must be equally serious about implementing this plan,” he said.

The United States also acknowledged gaps in humanitarian efforts. Envoy Mike Waltz told the council that more work is needed to improve aid access and restore essential services.

He noted that while more than 4,000 aid trucks had been entering Gaza weekly in recent months, those numbers have since declined, underscoring ongoing challenges in meeting humanitarian needs.