Middle East: Deadly weekend in Lebanon, continued violence in Gaza

More than 100 strikes were reported in the past 24 hours alone, while 87 people were killed over the weekend, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told journalists in New York.

Separately, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher stressed that the violence must end.

‘Genuine ceasefire’ needed

“Over 100 strikes on Lebanon in 24 hours. Civilians killed. Families displaced,” Mr. Fletcher tweeted.

“We are doing everything to get support to those who need it. But what people need most is a genuine ceasefire.”

Healthcare under fire

Mr. Haq said Lebanese authorities reported on Monday that two paramedics affiliated with the Islamic Health Committee were killed, and several others wounded, in airstrikes in two towns in the south.

Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 158 attacks on healthcare, resulting in 108 deaths and 249 injuries, since the start of the escalation between Hezbollah militants and Israeli forces on 2 March.

“Attacks on humanitarian and medical personnel are unacceptable and further undermine an overstretched health system and access to emergency healthcare for civilians,” he said.

Three hospitals and 41 primary healthcare centres remain closed, he added, while several others operate only partially. In southern governorates, six hospitals have yet to resume maternity services that were suspended during the escalation.

Civilians on the move

Renewed displacement orders also were issued over the weekend for multiple towns and villages in southern Lebanon and Nabatieh governorate.

UN aid partners noted that displaced people, including pregnant women and other vulnerable groups, often face limited access to adequate and diverse food, thus increasing health risks.

“Despite these challenges, humanitarian partners continue to deliver critical assistance and services in close coordination with the Government,” Mr. Haq said.

So far, they have supported more than 585 hospital admissions, administered over 18,000 vaccine doses through primary healthcare centres, provided more than 4,300 prenatal care consultations, and distributed more than 8.4 million meals.

Rising needs, funding shortfall

He warned, however, that humanitarian needs continue to outpace resources, and a $308 million appeal covering the period from March to May is just over 40 per cent funded.

In related developments, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has continued to record extensive military activity across its area of operations.

Since Friday, UNIFIL peacekeepers have observed more than 1,296 trajectories of projectiles attributed to Israeli forces, and 64 attributed to Hezbollah.

Strikes and other violence in Gaza

In more news from the region:

Humanitarians in Gaza reported multiple incidents of airstrikes this weekend, along with shelling, navy fire and gunshots hitting residential areas, which reportedly resulted in casualties.

Meanwhile, UN partners working on water and sanitation said raw sewage has flooded neighbourhoods in Khan Younis, following power failures linked to the shortage of lubricating oil for pumping station generators.

They stressed that essential supplies—including engine oil and spare parts—must be allowed into Gaza urgently.

Diplomats visit the West Bank

Turning to the West Bank, where the top UN humanitarian official in the occupied Palestinian territory, Ramiz Alakbarov, led diplomats from 11 countries on a field visit to witness the impact of demolitions, displacement, water access restrictions and settler violence.

The delegation met affected Palestinians in two communities, Ein el Beida and Al Hadidiya, in the northern Jordan Valley.

They also stopped at Hammamat al Maleh, which is among 45 communities that have been displaced in full since 2023 due to settler violence and access restrictions.

Solidarity, support and accountability

“The delegation visited homes that were abandoned when people were forcibly displaced, a demolished school that had been built with donor funding, and water springs that have been taken over by Israeli settlers,” said Mr. Haq.

“They heard testimonies from Palestinian herders facing repeated attacks, demolitions and restrictions on access to grazing land.”

Mr. Alakbarov called for solidarity and partnership to support people whose lives, way of living and livelihoods are at risk.

He also stressed the need for accountability for violence, demolitions and illegal use of natural resources.