Against this backdrop, the United Nations (UN) Secretary‑General, António Guterres, has issued a strong condemnation of the latest attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The incidents, he said, are exacerbating an already volatile situation.

“Near‑daily attacks by Israeli settlers have become increasingly severe, resulting in deaths, injuries and significant property damage, and the displacement, sometimes of entire communities,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists on Monday.

Guterres reiterated that Israeli settlements and related infrastructure “have no legal validity” and remain “in flagrant violation of international law, including applicable UN resolutions”. He called for an “urgent de‑escalation” in the West Bank and an end to all attacks on civilians and their property.

Guterres urged the Israeli government to implement concrete measures to reverse the current trajectory, warning that unchecked violence threatens to deepen the crisis across the region.

Briefing the media on Monday, Ted Chaiban, UN Children Fund’s (UNICEF) Deputy Executive Director, warned that an expansion of the conflict would be devastating for children across the Middle East. “A further descent into a wider and more protracted conflict would be catastrophic for millions more children,” he said.

Since the latest escalation began, more than 2 100 children have been killed or injured across the region. This includes 206 children in Iran, 118 in Lebanon, four in Israel and one in Kuwait. UNICEF has also reported soaring displacement, interruptions to health services and increasing risks of trafficking, exploitation and long‑term trauma.

The conflict has also shaken global energy markets. Oil prices remain above $100 a barrel as attacks on key infrastructure disrupt output in Kuwait and threaten liquefied natural gas exports from Qatar.

–UN/ChannelAfrica–