Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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October 7, 2025 Peace and security
Two years after Hamas and other armed groups attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, the suffering of civilians on both sides of the conflict has reached unbearable levels and demands immediate action to end the violence and ensure free access for aid. Representatives from several leading UN agencies stated this at a briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.
Call for the protection of civilians and the release of hostages
Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), read a statement from Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher.
"We reiterate our call for the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages. Until then, they must be held in humane conditions," the document emphasizes. "Civilians must be protected under all circumstances."
As of October 1, 48 people remain held hostage, including those known or presumed dead, Laerke said.
Casualty figures and humanitarian catastrophe
Since the beginning of the conflict, the death toll in Gaza has reached 66,288, including 18,430 children. Around 400 Palestinians have died of malnutrition.
According to the UN, more than 8,000 applications for humanitarian missions and movements have been submitted since October 2023, but only 45 percent of them were approved by Israeli authorities. More than a quarter of the applications were rejected or remained unanswered for a long time.
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Anniversary of attacks on Israel: UN Secretary-General calls for immediate release of hostages and end to hostilities
UNICEF: "Every 17 minutes, one child suffers."
UNICEF Deputy Spokesperson Ricardo Pires recalled that many women and children were killed and wounded on that fateful day, and reiterated his demand for the release of those taken hostage.
A UNICEF representative also condemned violence against children in Gaza, stating that 61,000 children have been killed or injured as a result of Israel's ongoing "disproportionate" attacks. "That's one child every 17 minutes," he warned. "Children are experiencing unimaginable suffering—orphaned, displaced, and exposed to disease and violence. The violence must stop; there must be a ceasefire."
He added that dozens of newborns in northern Gaza are being forced to share oxygen masks and incubators because UNICEF is not receiving permission to deliver vital equipment.
UNRWA: 'Two years of destruction and fear'
Alexandra Vellucci read a statement from Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Relief Agency for Palestinians in the Near East, published on the social media platform X. "Grief, suffering, and immeasurable pain—this is the reality for too many people since October 7, 2023," the statement reads. "For two long years, people in Gaza have seen nothing but destruction, fear, hunger, and death."
Lazzarini reiterated his demand for the release of all hostages and Palestinian detainees, an immediate ceasefire, the unimpeded delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid, including through UNRWA, and for all those responsible for the atrocities committed on both sides to be held accountable.
WHO: Spread of hunger and collapse of health system
According to the World Health Organization, more than 640,000 people are on the brink of starvation. 1,050 children have been admitted to WHO centers for treatment for the effects of malnutrition, half of them this year alone.
Of the 36 hospitals in Gaza, only 14 are functioning, and in the northern part of the Strip, all hospitals are closed.
Call for a truce and hope for diplomatic efforts
The UN welcomed the American initiative as a chance for a ceasefire and stressed the need for immediate access of humanitarian supplies and ensuring the safety of civilians.
"There is a glimmer of hope for an end to the suffering that must be preserved," Fletcher said in a statement.
The organization reiterated that respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians are the responsibility of all parties.
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