UN warns Gaza ceasefire is fragile as violations mount
The fragile ceasefire in Gaza remains under severe strain, the United Nations has warned, as it urges the parties to consolidate the truce and move to the next phase of a US-backed peace plan.
A UN Middle East official told the Security Council of the need to lock in the ceasefire while raising alarm over escalating violence and settlement activity in the occupied West Bank. The truce, which began in October 2025, has been repeatedly tested.
The planned second phase of the US administration's 20-point comprehensive plan is intended to advance the full demilitarisation and reconstruction of Gaza, a step described as critical to consolidating the ceasefire. But officials warned that continued Israeli military operations — air strikes, shelling and gunfire — could jeopardise progress.
Rights monitors say the ceasefire has been violated by both sides, with Israeli strikes reported to have killed hundreds of Palestinians since it took effect. Israel has also withheld billions of dollars in Palestinian clearance revenue, deepening the economic crisis.
Tensions have risen further in the West Bank, where Israeli officials have pushed for expanded settlements. The developments have fuelled fears that the truce could unravel, even as mediators work to keep the peace process alive.
