The violence, he said, “endangers civilians and adds to the immense hardships they have endured over the past 28 months.”
He added that civilians are protected by international humanitarian law wherever they are, “Even if they cross or are close to military demarcation lines…civilians must always be protectedand during military operations constant care must be taken to protect them.”
Reopens the health center
Amid ongoing hostilities, UN agencies reported limited but important progress in restoring essential services.
The UN Palestinian refugee aid agency (UNRWA) said it reopened the Bureij health center in Deir al Balah after months of closure. The center now provides primary health care, maternal health services, laboratory testing and dental care.
However, thousands of patients remain without access to treatment and recovery, as critical services are still not available in Gaza.
“Their top priority is to expand local services, including rehabilitating damaged facilities and expanding intensive care. This requires more medical supplies, including items that are not easily approved for entry by Israeli authorities, such as X-ray machines and laboratory equipment,” Dujarric said.
Shelter and protection needs remain acute
The UN shelter partners said that last week they had provided more than 5,600 families with emergency shelter assistance in just over a weekincluding nearly 5,000 tarps and more than 12,000 bedding items.
Last month alone, similar assistance – including nearly 8,000 tents – reached more than 85,000 families. However, durable solutions are urgently needed, requiring permission from Israeli authorities to bring in machinery and construction materials to repair damaged structures, partner organizations said.