{"id":315173,"date":"2026-02-09T16:28:57","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T21:28:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=315173"},"modified":"2026-03-04T15:57:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T20:57:05","slug":"january-2026-monthly-bulletin","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/january-2026-monthly-bulletin\/","title":{"rendered":"UNRWA Headquarters demolished by Israeli authorities and set on fire, UN report chronicles intensification of racial discrimination by Israel in OPT \u2013 January 2026 Monthly Bulletin"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Disclaimer<\/strong>: The texts and links cited in this Monthly Bulletin have been reproduced in their original form<\/u>. The Division for Palestinian Rights is consequently not responsible for the views, positions or discrepancies contained in these texts.<\/em>\u200b<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

Contents<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200b1. <\/span>UN Security Council discusses the situation in Gaza and occupied West Bank.<\/a><\/p>\n

2. UNRWA Headquarters demolished by Israeli authorities and set on fire.<\/a><\/p>\n

3. UN report chronicles intensification of racial discrimination by Israel in OPT.<\/a><\/p>\n

4. Heavy rains in Gaza placed nearly 800,000 people at heightened risk.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>1. UN Security Council discusses\u00a0the\u00a0situation in\u00a0Gaza and occupied West Bank<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On 28 January, the Security Council held its quarterly open debate on\u00a0the situation in the Middle East, including the\u00a0question of Palestine,\u00a0with\u00a0<\/span>briefing<\/span><\/a>\u00a0by Deputy Special Coordinator of the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov. Mr. Alakbarov\u00a0stressed that\u00a0\u201cnearly\u00a0the entire population in Gaza remains in need of humanitarian assistance\u201d\u00a0but\u00a0\u201chumanitarian actors are still unable to operate at scale\u201d.\u00a0Mr. Alakbarov\u00a0reported that the\u00a0West Bank\u00a0saw\u00a0extensive Israeli military operations, settler violence,\u00a0and arrest campaigns of Palestinians \u2014 including children \u2014 by Israeli security forces.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In his\u00a0<\/span>statement<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0Ambassador\u00a0Jaime Hermida Castillo\u00a0(Nicaragua),\u00a0the\u00a0Vice-Chair of the\u202fCommittee\u202fon the Exercise of the Inalienable\u202fRights\u202fof the\u202fPalestinian\u202fPeople,\u00a0said that Israel\u2019s approval of 19\u202fnew settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East\u00a0Jerusalem\u00a0\u2014 including the re-establishment of settlements evacuated in\u202f2005 \u2014 represents a serious setback. \u202f\u201cThese illegal, colonial actions openly seek to destroy the contiguity of the Palestinian land and foreclose the possibility of a viable Palestinian State,\u201d he said.\u00a0The Vice-Chair\u00a0stressed\u00a0that\u00a0UNRWA \u201cis a lifeline for millions of Palestine refugees\u201d\u00a0and Israel\u2019s\u00a0measures\u00a0targeting\u00a0the agency are \u201cappalling\u201d.\u00a0He\u00a0stated\u00a0that\u00a0\u201cpeace cannot coexist with annexation\u202fand oppression, humanitarian access cannot coexist with obstruction, and\u202fcoexistence itself\u202fcannot survive without justice and accountability\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Related Content:<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Statement of the UN Secretary-General on the launch of Phase 2 of President Trump\u2019s 20-point plan in Gaza<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(15 January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Consolidate Gaza Ceasefire, Halt Escalating Violence, Settlement Activity in West Bank, Deputy Special Coordinator Tells Security Council Open Debate \u2013 Meeting Coverage<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(28 January)<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. \u201cPeace cannot coexist with annexation\u202fand oppression\u201d Statement by Vice-Chair of the Palestinian Rights Committee at Security Council Open Debate<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(28 January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. “Nearly entire population\u00a0in\u00a0Gaza remains in need of humanitarian assistance”\u00a0– Statement by UNSCO Deputy Special Coordinator<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0(28 January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u00a0<\/span>2. UNRWA Headquarters demolished\u00a0by Israeli authorities\u00a0and set on fire\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    On\u00a014\u00a0January,\u00a0UNRWA Commissioner-General\u00a0<\/span>informed<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0Israeli\u00a0authorities\u00a0forcibly entered\u00a0the\u00a0UNRWA Jerusalem Health Centre\u00a0while\u00a0the agency\u00a0received notifications from utility providers of impending severance of electricity and water supplies to multiple\u00a0of its\u00a0facilities across East Jerusalem.\u00a0The Commissioner-General condemned\u00a0these actions\u00a0as they \u201cunilaterally prevent UNRWA from executing its UN General Assembly mandate\u201d.\u00a0On 15 January, the\u00a0UN\u00a0Secretary-General<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>strongly condemned the\u00a0\u201cunlawful entry\u201d and expressed deep\u00a0<\/span>regret<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that \u201cthe Israeli authorities have continued to take further action inconsistent with its obligations under international\u00a0law\u00a0including\u00a0the\u00a0Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations\u201d.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Furthermore, on 20 January,\u00a0the\u00a0UNRWA Commissioner-General\u00a0<\/span>informed<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that\u00a0the Israeli forces forcibly entered UNRWA\u00a0Headquarters\u00a0in\u00a0occupied\u00a0East Jerusalem\u00a0and started\u00a0demolishing\u00a0buildings inside. The\u00a0UN\u00a0Secretary-General\u00a0<\/span>condemned<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u201cin the strongest terms the\u00a0Israeli authorities\u2019 actions\u201d,\u00a0urged the Government of Israel to\u00a0immediately\u00a0cease the demolitions and return UNRWA premises to the United Nations.\u00a0On 25 January,\u00a0the Agency\u00a0<\/span>informed<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that\u00a0its\u00a0Headquarters was set on\u00a0fire.\u00a0The Commissioner-General\u00a0stated\u00a0that\u00a0this was in line with \u201cthe ongoing attempt to dismantle the status of Palestine Refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and erase their history\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    More information and related content:<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The UN footprint in occupied East Jerusalem is shrinking fast – UNRWA official statement\u00a0<\/span><\/a>(14\u00a0January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. UNRWA Commissioner-General: Israeli Actions Undermine International Law and Threaten Refugee Services<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(14 January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Statement of the UN Secretary-General on the unauthorized entry into the UNRWA Jerusalem Health Centre<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(15 January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. UNRWA Commissioner-General: Unprecedented Violation of UN Premises and International Law in East Jerusalem<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(20 January)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Statement: UN Secretary-General on the demolition of the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>(20 January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    6. UNRWA Commissioner-General: Israel\u2019s Claims Over Sheikh Jarrah Compound Are False, Illegal, and a Violation of International Law<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>(21 January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    7. UNRWA Commissioner-General: The burning of UNRWA\u2019s headquarters is an unprecedented attack on the United Nations<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>(25 January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    8. Statement from the Advisory Commission on UNRWA<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>(26 January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \u00a0<\/span>\u00a03. <\/strong>UN report chronicles intensification of racial discrimination by Israel in\u00a0OPT<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      On 7 January, the UN\u00a0Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights\u00a0<\/span>released<\/span><\/a>\u00a0a report detailing \u201cthe asphyxiating impact of Israel\u2019s laws, policies and practices on every aspect of daily life\u00a0for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem\u201d. The\u00a0report warns that\u00a0\u201cIsrael is violating international law requiring States to prohibit and eradicate racial segregation and apartheid\u201d.\u00a0On 15 January, 22\u00a0UN experts\u00a0<\/span>stated<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that Israel\u2019s suspension of dozens of associations in the occupied Palestinian territory is a\u00a0\u201cflagrant violation of the law\u201d and that \u201cby\u00a0blocking aid, Israel is worsening life-threatening\u00a0conditions, and\u00a0heightens potential criminal responsibility for its leaders\u201d.\u00a0Meanwhile, in Geneva, the newly appointed\u00a0Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and in Israel\u00a0held its first\u00a0<\/span>press briefing<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and informed that\u00a0they<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cneed to investigate violations of human rights by all duty-bearers and in both territories.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      More details and related content:\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. UN Human Rights Chief says draft proposals on death penalty for Palestinians must be dropped\u00a0<\/span>(2 January)<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. UN report chronicles intensification of decades of severe racial discrimination by Israel in occupied West Bank \u2013 OHCHR Press Release<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(7 January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Thematic Report (OHCHR): Israel\u2019s discriminatory administration of the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(7 January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      4. Israel: Ban on 37 aid groups makes life unbearable for genocide survivors in Palestine, say UN experts<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(15 January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      5. At UN, war crimes probe pledges to continue to work for all impacted by Hamas-Israel conflict, Commission of Inquiry press briefing<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(22\u00a0January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      6. Israel\u2019s continuous assaults on Birzeit University are an attack on education itself: UN experts<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(22 January)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        \u00a0<\/span>4. Heavy rains in Gaza placed\u00a0nearly 800,000\u00a0people at heightened risk<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)\u00a0<\/span>reported<\/span><\/a>\u00a0on 14\u00a0January that heavy rains in Gaza placed\u00a0nearly 800,000\u00a0people, almost 40%\u00a0of the population, in flood-prone sites at heightened risk. Simultaneously,\u00a0according to\u00a0the United Nations Children\u2019s Fund (UNICEF)\u00a0over 100 children have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire.\u00a0In an\u00a0update published on 11 January, the World Food Program (WFP)\u00a0<\/span>reported<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to have reached over 900,000 people\u00a0in Gaza\u00a0with food parcels and wheat flour\u00a0through 60 active distribution points\u00a0in December 2025.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        On 21 January, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)\u00a0<\/span>reported<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in an update covering October-December 2025 that over one-third of pregnant women screened were acutely malnourished. In the first half of 2025, 10% of newborns\u2014around 300 babies\u2014were underweight, and more than 60% of all health service points are non-functional.\u00a0On 27 January,\u00a0UNICEF\u00a0<\/span>announced<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that their\u00a0\u201cBack to Learning\u201d\u00a0programme\u00a0in Gaza\u00a0would\u00a0expand to include 336,000 children,\u00a0making it\u00a0one of the largest emergency learning efforts worldwide.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, OCHA\u00a0<\/span>reported<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that on 22 January 25,000 residents of Hebron\u2019s H2 area have been placed under curfew and severe movement restrictions since 19 January, as part of a large-scale Israeli operation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        More details and related\u00a0content:\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        1. Updates by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n