The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Mohammed Al Hassan, briefed members for the last time as the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) prepares to conclude its mandate on 31 December after more than two decades of service.

“Today, indeed, is a great day for the international community and the United Nations to witness an honourable and dignified closure of a UN mission,” he said.

Victory and sacrifice

UNAMI was established by the Council in 2003. At the time, the country was “grappling with the effects of decades of dictatorship, regional wars, internal conflicts, foreign occupation, and the terror of Da’esh,” he recalled.

“The road to peace, security and stability was long and difficult. However, with the support of the international community Iraq came out victorious, but with untold sacrifices,” he said.

He used the opportunity to honour the memory of all those who lost their lives since UNAMI began operations, including the 22 UN staff killed in the Canal Hotel bombing in August 2003 – among the darkest days in the history of the organization.

Hard-won gains

Mr. Al Hassan said both he and his predecessors have been struck by the resilience and steadfastness of Iraq and its people as they worked to build a more secure and prosperous future.

“From the adoption of a new Constitution to the strengthening and consolidation of democracy through 13 successful electoral processes, Iraq was able to incrementally consolidate hard-won gains against the odds,” he said.

Last month, Iraq held its sixth parliamentary elections and the process was marked by a notable increase in turnout of registered voters, 56 per cent.  The vote was also among the most free, orderly and credible polls conducted so far.

He congratulated the Iraqi people, the Independent High Electoral Commission and UNAMI, which provided electoral assistance.

“I can hardly think of a more fitting final chapter to UNAMI’s activities than the scenes witnessed by myself and my team at polling stations across the country, as Iraqis from diverse backgrounds lined up in orderly queues, eager to cast their ballots,” he said. 

“While I express confidence that Iraq will continue to build upon this solid electoral foundation, I fervently hope that a new Government will be formed without delay.”

He also noted that the formation of a new Government in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region “remains pending” after more than a year of protracted negotiations. 

Internal displacement, repatriations from Syria

Furthermore, although Iraq has overcome successive conflicts on the road to stability, the lasting effects have given rise to dire and persisting humanitarian needs. Roughly a million people remain internally displaced, including more than 100,000 predominantly Yazidis from Sinjar.

The minority community endured immense suffering at the hands of the Dae’sh terrorist group, also known as ISIL, and members are still living in displacement camps.

Mr. Hassan highlighted Iraq’s commendable leadership in launching a concerted effort earlier this year to speed up the repatriation of nationals from northeast Syria. 

Tens of thousands of people from various countries with alleged or actual ties to Dae’sh remain detained in camps in the region.

He reported that approximately 20,800 people have returned to Iraq to date. 

“As returns continue, the last one taking place just yesterday, it remains essential for adequate resources to be directed toward ensuring dignified and sustainable reintegration, including reliable access to basic services, livelihoods, and community-level support,” he said.

Human rights challenges

The envoy also congratulated Iraq on its election as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, which he said comes with a corresponding responsibility to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights. 

In this regard, he pointed to the many challenges that remain, “notably for ensuring full protection and fulfillment of the rights of minorities, women and youth, and continuing to uphold freedom of expression as a cornerstone of open public dialogue in a strong democratic society.”

Concluding his remarks, Mr. Hassan affirmed that “UNAMI’s departure does not mark an end to the Iraq-UN partnership. Rather, it represents the start of a new chapter rooted in Iraq’s leadership of its own future.”

The UN will continue to stand by Iraq to build on its hard-won gains, providing technical expertise, advice and support, he said.

“I wish to reaffirm my full confidence in the resilience of the Iraqi people and the determination of their leaders to tackle whatever challenges may lie ahead, as they have so commendably done over the last 20 years,” he added.

“I call on them to strive to build bridges of trust and friendship, promote common interests with all the neighboring countries and to regain the glory of Iraq as the cradle of civilization.”  

“Attacks on frontline regions (are) increasing and it’s always civilians that are bearing the highest cost of the war,” said UNHCR Representative Karolina Lindholm Billing.

Since January, more than 3,500 newly displaced people have transited through a centre in Pavlohrad towards central Ukraine; in total, more than 200,000 people have been evacuated or displaced from frontline areas between August last year and the start of 2025.

Last to leave

Last month, more than 4,200 evacuees arrived at a transit centre in the northeastern city of Sumy where UNHCR and partners provide humanitarian support. These numbers are only a fraction of all those made homeless by the violence and mandatory evacuation orders issued by Kyiv in the face of ongoing Russian aggression.

The majority of those being moved are the elderly with low mobility or disabilities, families with few resources and children. In many cases, they stayed until the end because they didn’t want to leave everything they had behind, UNHCR said.

Cities and civilians targeted

On Thursday, UN aid agencies led condemnation of Russian missile-and-drone attack on Kyiv that killed 12 people and injured 84, one of a wave of attacks across the country that point to an intensification of the conflict since the start of the year – and growing humanitarian needs for refugees.

“Those deadly Russian attacks have intensified alarmingly since January,” said Ms. Billing, speaking to journalists in Geneva via videolink from Kyiv.

“More than 1,000 people have been directly affected as their homes have been damaged or completely destroyed. Civilian infrastructure were also hit in several other regions yesterday, including in Kharkiv, where I myself woke up around 2 am in the morning to the loud sound of explosions.”

According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, civilian casualties in Ukraine were 70 per cent higher in March this year compared to 12 months earlier.

Supporting lives and livelihoods

The war has left four million internally displaced since 24 February 2022 when Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine. Many of those uprooted have yet to find affordable housing and a new job – which is why support from humanitarian organizations is so crucial, the UNHCR official continued.

“One of the main things we deliver as part of the emergency response are emergency shelter materials that help people cover broken windows, roofs and doors,” Ms. Billing said.

Since 2022, UNHCR has supported around 450,000 people making repairs on their homes. The UN agency also provides psychological first aid and legal support to those who have lost their identity documents and emergency cash assistance to help people cover most basic needs.   

Funding impacts

But more support is needed to sustain a timely and predictable response to the many calls for assistance the agency receives from the affected people and the authorities.

Last year, US funding for UNHCR accounted for around 40 per cent of its overall contributions. For 2025, UNHCR has appealed for $803.5 million to address the emergency situation in Ukraine. Today, that appeal is just 25 per cent funded. During the winter period, the agency had to put some of its programmes partially on hold, impacting psychosocial support, emergency shelter material and cash assistance. 

“We will not give up on these objectives,” António Guterres said during a press encounter at the UN Office in Geneva.

Airstrikes resume, aid blocked

In a statement issued earlier in the day, UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said Mr. Guterres was “shocked” by the Israeli strikes, which reportedly killed hundreds overnight.

He issued a strong appeal for both sides to uphold the ceasefire and allow humanitarian assistance to resume.

Worst fears materialised

Briefing the Security Council on the dire humanitarian situation, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher confirmed that Israeli forces had resumed widespread airstrikes, accompanied by new evacuation orders.

“Our worst fears materialised,” he said, describing the renewed hostilities as a devastating setback to recent humanitarian efforts – marking the return to “abject fear” in Gaza.

Mr. Fletcher reported that since 2 March, Israeli authorities had cut off all lifesaving supplies – food, medicine, fuel and cooking gas – into the Gaza Strip.

“Food is rotting and medicines are expiring,” he warned, adding “our repeated requests to collect aid sitting at Kerem Shalom crossing have been systematically rejected.”

Ceasefire gains reversed

Mr. Fletcher further warned that that modest humanitarian gains made during the 42-day ceasefire had been wiped out.

“During that period, over 4,000 trucks of aid per week entered Gaza. We reached two million people,” he said, noting also that 600,000 received polio vaccinations and maternity care for 5,000 births.

“The suspension of aid and commercial materials is reversing that progress that we achieved during that brief period. Essential survival resources needed are now being rationed,” he added.

Concerns grow over West Bank

The UN relief chief also highlighted worsening conditions in the West Bank, where 95 Palestinians, including 17 children, have been killed this year.

Israeli military operations have intensified, deploying tanks for the first time in two decades. Around 40,000 Palestinians have been displaced and settlers have launched large-scale attacks on villages.

“I also have grave concerns about the protection of civilians in the West Bank. The situation there is an urgent crisis that must be addressed with the necessary international attention,” Mr. Fletcher said.

Call  for urgent action

Mr. Fletcher concluded with a call for ambassadors to take three immediate steps: open Gaza’s border crossings to aid, renew the ceasefire and secure more funding for humanitarian operations.

“The suffering of the people of the region must end. A renewed ceasefire is the best way of protecting civilians – in Gaza, in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) and in Israel – releasing hostages and detainees and allowing aid and commercial supplies in,” he said.

A note to media correspondents was released by the UN on Sunday, a day after the release of three Israeli hostages from Gaza, in exchange for 369 Palestinians held in Israel’s jails. The exchange forms part of the first phase of a ceasefire deal between the two sides which came into effect on 19 January.

The deal is split into three phases, and phase one also includes the removal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza, permission for Palestinians to return to their neighbourhoods and a significant increase in the numbers of aid deliveries allowed into the occupied territory.

Despite tensions, phase one, which is due to be completed on 1 March, has proceeded largely according to plan. After that date, negotiations should begin on the next stage, which involves a permanent ceasefire between the two sides.

The document states that the UN remains fully engaged in supporting the implementation of the deal, including helping to facilitate the delivery of critical humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.  Mr. Guterres reiterates his call for all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

More than 12.7 million people inside Ukraine require aid, as do the more than 6.8 million Ukrainian refugees worldwide.

On Tuesday, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher visited the Kharkiv region, located in the east.

Support in frontline areas

He travelled to the village of Shevchenko, some 30 kilometres from the front lines, and another city, Kupiansk, which is on the front lines.

The UN is working with local partners in these areas to provide transport to people living close to the front lines so that they can access basic services.  Many are older and have limited mobility.

Mr. Fletcher was later joined by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, at a press conference with the governor of Kharkiv region.

Stay and deliver

He underscored the UN’s sustained commitment to stay and deliver for people as the war rages on. 

Mr. Grandi wrote on social media that it had been valuable to meet the governor face to face.

“We assured him that the UN will continue supporting the authorities’ efforts to keep their people warm, strong and safe as a third consecutive winter increases hardship in Ukraine’s war-devastated frontline areas,” he said in a post on X.

Aid plans

The top UN officials will be in the capital, Kyiv, on Thursday to launch the 2025 humanitarian and refugee response plans alongside the Government.

The plans aim to ensure the continuation of critical assistance to people affected by the crisis. 

Waanja Kaaria, WFP Representative and Country Director in Haiti, briefed journalists in New York alongside the agency’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Lola Castro.

She cited the latest UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis which shows that some 5.4 million people in Haiti, roughly half the population, are suffering from acute hunger.

“This includes about 6,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) sheltering in sites where we have also seen pockets of IPC5…the highest level, and this is also displayed in famine-like conditions,” she said, speaking via videoconference.

Young lives at risk

Additionally, 270,000 children across the Caribbean country are acutely malnourished. 

“We know also that hunger significantly increases the likelihood of engaging in adverse coping mechanisms, and especially dire for young people is that risk of being recruited by armed groups and sliding into criminality,” she said.

Armed gangs have been terrorizing Haiti for several years now, especially the capital, Port-au-Prince, forcing people to flee their homes.

Ms. Kaaria reported that a recent increase in attacks has led to tens of thousands more people to be uprooted. Numbers have doubled in the last three months, bringing total displacement to over 700,000. 

Aid under attack

In response to the crisis in Haiti, WFP is supporting vulnerable people, particularly in the capital city, and this work can be difficult. 

On Thursday, a UN helicopter operated by the agency was hit by gunfire while departing Port-au-Prince for Les Cayes but was able to land safely.  An investigation is underway. 

“The interruption is only today, where we have put all flights on hold for today just to allow us time to assess the implications of the gunfire and to allow us to establish additional routes for next week, and keeping an eye on the safety of our staff,” she said.

Meals and more

WFP has been responding to the crisis in Haiti by supporting vulnerable people, particularly in the capital city, even during peak violence earlier this year.

They have provided over two million hot meals to IDPs through partners on the ground. The food is prepared in local kitchens and some of the workers are themselves displaced people.  Meals are made from locally grown and locally produced ingredients.

Ms. Kaaria said she is always inspired when visiting the kitchens, where cooking starts early in the morning so that the food is ready to be served by noon. 

“This ensures that displaced people across the capital can actually receive at least one hot nutritious meal in in a day,” she said

Addressing root causes of hunger

WFP has assisted some 1.4 million people to date, and aims to reach about 2.2 million by the end of the year.  Support includes the distribution of cash-based transfers, with over $31 million disbursed so far, along with over 7,500 metric tonnes of food. 

‘With the growing numbers of IDPs and the recent deportations of Haitians from Dominican Republic, WFP continues to provide hot meals which are really, really essential to meet life-saving needs,” she said. 

In addition to providing humanitarian assistance, WFP stands with Haitians in addressing the structural causes of hunger and ensuring long-term development. 

In this regard she pointed to its school meals programme, carried out jointly with the Government, with over half a million children benefiting. Roughly 70 per cent of the ingredients used are locally produced and sourced.

Supporting local farmers

Each month and during the school year, WFP purchases about $1.7 million worth of commodities from small-holder farmers, targeting over 6,000 this year alone from 150 farmer organizations.

“This is important, particularly as it boosts the local economy and supports the local smallholder farmers and allows for strong supply chain resilience,” she said.

WFP also works on social protection and has helped the Government to create a database that contains around 30 per cent of the population.  

This year, some 125,000 Haitians received cash transfers, giving them “the dignity of choice to be able to purchase what they see as the essential needs to fulfill some of their basic needs, while also contributing to the local economy.”

More investment needed

Ms. Castro, the WFP Regional Director, noted that the school meals programme helps to keep children in the classroom and “creates some sort of stability and normalcy”. 

Yet, with 6,000 people facing catastrophic levels of hunger, more needs to be done.   

“Our priority is to save lives,” she said, speaking from Panama. “But also, we need to continue investing in areas where it’s possible to procure food, to reduce undernutrition, to strengthen the social protection system and the education system.”

She recalled that humanitarians have launched a $642 million plan for Haiti, “but it is only 42 per cent funded, and we are in October. So really, we need to do much more, and much better, as the international community.” 

“The series of explosions across Lebanon and rockets fired toward Israel in recent days adds to the volatility,” said Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.

He urged all sides “to refrain from steps that will further exacerbate the situation and take immediate steps to de-escalate.”

Settlement activity continues

Mr. Wennesland made the appeal prior to updating ambassadors on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), which demands that Israel end all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

“Settlement activity has, nevertheless, continued,” he said.

The latest UN report on the issue covers the period from 11 June to 11 September, falling amid the ongoing war in Gaza and alarming levels of violence in the West Bank.

During this time, some 6,730 housing units were advanced or approved in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.  Construction tenders also were published for approximately 1,100 housing units in settlements, including 780 in East Jerusalem.

Relatedly, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Central Command signed a military order on 18 July amending a 1995 order that implemented the Oslo Accords – the first direct peace agreement between the sides. 

The move granted the local military commander authority over planning and construction in certain parts of Area B in the West Bank that had been transferred to the Palestinian Authority.

Demolitions and evictions

Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures also continued.

“Citing the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are almost impossible for Palestinians to obtain, Israeli authorities demolished, seized, or forced people to demolish 373 structures, displacing 553 people, including 247 children. 26 of these structures were donor funded,” he said.

Meanwhile, Israel continued to evict Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem.  He highlighted the case of the Shehadeh family who were removed from their home in Silwan on 15 August, in favour of a settler organization, following a Supreme Court ruling.

Mr. Wennesland said the eviction displaced 35 people, while 188 Palestinians, including 111 children, left their occupied West Bank communities due to violence and harassment by settlers, and shrinking grazing land.

He noted that the reporting period also saw the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issue an Advisory Opinion on 19 July reaffirming that Israeli settlements were being maintained in violation of international law, and that new activity should cease. 

Furthermore, Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory was “unlawful” and should be brought to an end as rapidly as possible.

A question for the Council

The Council also heard a briefing from Helen Clark, a former Prime Minister of New Zealand who also once headed the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Ms. Clark is a member of the group of eminent global public figures known as The Elders, which has made resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a priority since its founding in 2007 by the late Nelson Mandela.

She said implementation of resolution 2334 “is acutely relevant to the current devastating phase of the conflict” and to any chance of a two-State solution.

“But its failure so far also poses an existential question: can the Security Council enforce its own resolutions? This is surely crucial to its credibility,” she said.

New approach needed

Ms. Clark emphasized that the Council has a responsibility to chart a path towards a sustainable peace, and a full, immediate and complete ceasefire in Gaza is an indispensable step.  Therefore, it was “deeply disturbing” that a Council resolution calling for a ceasefire remains unimplemented.

She emphasized the need for a new approach, grounded in international law, including enforcement of UN Security Council resolutions. 

“Council members who question the binding status of these resolutions, or who use their veto to protect an ally or to oppose a geo-political rival, are eroding the Council’s authority. They also undermine their own reputations and long-term interests,” she said.

Respect ICJ decisions

She added that all Member States are also bound to respect and comply with ICJ decisions which includes the provisional measures ordered to protect Palestinians in Gaza.

While non-binding, the ICJ Advisory Opinion “is an authoritative, landmark ruling,” she said, urging the UN General Assembly and Security Council to pass resolutions indorsing it and setting out what action is required by Israel, other Member States, and the UN to end the occupation.

“The Elders welcome the passing of the General Assembly Resolution on this issue yesterday. How will the Security Council respond to the Advisory Opinion?” she asked.

More to come… 

Warning the Security Council, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu said that since the last briefing on weapons transfers only two weeks ago, the provision of military assistance and transfer of arms and ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces have continued in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in violation of the UN Charter and of international law.

“Any transfer of weapons and ammunition must be compliant with the applicable international legal framework, including of course, relevant Security Council resolutions, which in certain instances impose sanctions and restrictive measures on such transfers,” she said.

Shipments reportedly included such heavy conventional weapons as tanks, armoured combat vehicles and aircraft, helicopters, large-calibre artillery and missile systems and uncrewed combat aerial vehicles alongside remotely operated munitions, small arms and light weapons and their ammunition.

She also pointed to reports of States transferring, or planning to transfer, weapons such as uncrewed aerial vehicles, ballistic missiles and ammunition to the Russian armed forces and that these weapons have been used and are likely to be used in Ukraine.

States must abide by global arms treaties

The High Representative raised deep concerns about reports related to the use and transfer of cluster munitions since the beginning of the conflict and the widespread contamination with mines and explosive remnants of war in Ukraine.

Reminding the 15-member Council of the importance and value of international law in today’s challenging security context, she called on Member States to comply with obligations to various disarmament treaties, particularly conventions on cluster munitions, anti-personnel mines and what is referred to as “certain conventional weapons” deemed to be indiscriminate or excessively injurious, such as booby traps, weaponised lasers designed to cause permanent blindness and incendiary weapons.

The universal participation in and the full implementation of these treaties must remain a priority, she said, calling on all States to abide by their international humanitarian law obligations and to become parties as a matter of priority to disarmament treaties and comply with the obligations therein.

“Compliance with these obligations is crucial in preventing the causing of unnecessary suffering or superfluous injury to persons and in protecting civilians,” she said, underscoring that importing, transit, producing and exporting States must act responsibly at every step along the arms and ammunition transfer chain to prevent and detect diversion, illicit trafficking and misuse.

Civilian deaths keep rising

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has recorded over 11,700 civilians killed and more than 24,600 civilians injured in Ukraine.

According to the OHCHR, August was the month with the second highest number of civilian casualties in 2024, after July, with at least 184 civilians killed and 856 injured in Ukraine.

The use of armed uncrewed aerial vehicles and missiles by Russia continues to cause civilian deaths and injuries as well as damage to civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, Ms. Nakamitsu said.

In addition, there have also been reports of a number of cross-border strikes using missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles by Ukraine inside Russia, with some resulting in civilian casualties and damage to civilian objects.

“Armed uncrewed aerial vehicles and missiles must not be used in a manner inconsistent with international humanitarian law,” she said.

“All parties to any armed conflict have an obligation under international humanitarian law to protect civilians,” she said.

Russia: Ukraine uses chemical weapons

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Ukraine and its Western backers are looking for ways to break the situation on the battleground, but heavy losses have been reported of weapons already sent to Kyiv. Moreover, multiple reports indicate that Ukrainian forces are using chemical weapons, he said, adding that Moscow will continue to inform the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Turning to the possibility of easing the entry of weapons into Ukraine, he said “if the decision to lift restrictions is really taken, that will mean that from that moment NATO countries will be conducting direct war with Russia.”

“In this case, we will have to take the relevant decisions with all the consequences that the Western aggressors would incur,” he said. “We’re not talking about a game here. The facts are that NATO will be a direct party to hostilities against a nuclear power.”

US reports new Iranian missile shipments

US Ambassador Robert Wood highlighted new developments, saying Iranian personnel trained Russian military personnel this past summer on the use of Iran’s Project 360 close-range ballistic missiles, and Russia received the first shipment of hundreds of these missiles from Iran in early September.

With a maximum range of 75 miles, the missiles are enabling Russia to preserve its longer-range capabilities for use throughout Ukraine, deepening Russian arsenals and giving it the ability to destroy more Ukrainian infrastructure ahead of winter while destabilising European security.

“There is no legitimate excuse for what Russia is doing in Ukraine,” he said, adding that the US will continue to support Kyiv’s ability to defend itself and that “we will not back down.”

UK voices unwavering support for Kyiv

UK Deputy Permanent Representative James Kariuki said that “by calling this meeting today on Western weapons transfers to Ukraine, Russia has, yet again, succeeded only in drawing our attention to its continued hypocrisy.”

He said Iranian close-range ballistic missiles will “soon reach European soil”, and Russia continues to purchase significant quantities of weapons from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in violation of Council resolutions “Russia itself voted for”.

Moscow’s war in Ukraine is a “flagrant violation” of international law and the UN Charter, he said, adding that “we will not be deterred from our unwavering support for Ukraine.”

Watch the full Security Council meeting below:

Ukraine requests long-range missiles

Meanwhile in Washington, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden are due to meet on Friday to discuss the ongoing situation. Earlier in the day, Moscow expelled six British diplomats, accusing them of spying, which the UK Foreign Office said was a “completely baseless” charge.

The White House meeting follows on from Kyiv’s renewed requests for long-range missiles to strike, according to media reports.

The two leaders are expected to address Ukraine’s request to ease restrictions on using weapons supplied by Washington and London.

ICC: ‘Justice must play central role’

At the same time, International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan said justice must play a central role in confronting aggression and combatting attempts to wield unbridled power in a statement issued upon the conclusion of his sixth visit to Ukraine since the war began.

Pointing to Kyiv’s recent decision to sign the Rome Statute that recognises the ICC, he said “it is remarkable that amidst bombs and abductions, as children are targeted and intentional suffering is inflicted against civilians, the people and authorities of Ukraine have set an example by turning to the law as their ally.”

“That a State, amidst the most intense heat of conflict turns ever more firmly towards the law, is something to recognise and applaud, he said.

“We should not underestimate the significance of this moment. This decision by Ukraine, especially at this moment, strengthens not only the protection that international law can provide to the people of Ukraine, but to all people subjected to aggression, tyranny and atrocities globally.”

Hope and ‘a clear warning’

Mr. Khan called it a powerful act of unity and solidarity at a time “when many seek to drive a wedge between those that believe in the rule of law”.

Sending a message of “hope and a clear warning”, he said those who trespass in Ukraine “should know that we are united in holding them to account”.

“If you are a foot soldier, if you are guiding a drone to its target, if you are behind a desk planning illegal abductions of individuals, please know that the collective efforts that have been demonstrated in the last days will, eventually, remove any sense of impunity that you presently have,” he said.

“We will not let up our focus, we will increase the intensity of our work, we will deepen our partnerships with all our Ukrainian counterparts until we have truly demonstrated the potential of the law in this moment.”

In July, for only the second time in its history, the NHS warned hospitals that stocks of O-type blood – which can be given to the vast majority of patients – were running low enough to have an impact on patient treatment. This is known as an amber alert.

The NHS said it was due to a “perfect storm” of unfilled appointments at donor centres and increased demand following a cyber-attack, which affected services in London.

At that time, stocks of O negative stood at just 1.6 days, and 4.3 days for all types of blood.

O negative blood is universal and can be given to anyone. It is used in emergencies or when a patient’s blood type is unknown.

O positive blood is the most common type and about 35% of donors have it. It can be given to anybody with a positive blood type and all men and women past childbearing age.

Stocks of O negative blood are now at 7.8 days and overall stocks of all blood types have risen to 8.6 days, said NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the body that oversees England’s blood donation system as well as the UK-wide organ donor network.

The improvement follows a slight reduction in hospital demand for all blood types.

NHSBT’s Wendy Clark said they were very grateful to donors who answered the call to fill up sessions – and to hospitals for helping out as well – but warned more needs to be done.

She said: “The amber alert can only be removed once we are confident that stocks have reached a strong and sustainable level.

“To achieve this we need donors to keep up the momentum. If you haven’t stepped forward yet, we need you to do so now or in the weeks ahead.”

The Court was responding to a request for an advisory opinion by the General Assembly on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

The advisory from the ICJ is a legal opinion provided by the Court on questions of international law.

Unlike judgments in contentious cases between States, advisory opinions are non-binding and are sought by United Nations bodies such as the General Assembly or the Security Council.

While not legally binding, advisory opinions can shape international policies, increase moral pressure, and unilateral measures adopted by individual States such as sanctions.

Israel’s obligations

In its advisory opinion, the ICJ concluded that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful and that it is under an obligation to bring to an end its unlawful presence “as rapidly as possible”.

Israel is also “under an obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” the opinion continued, as well as “reparation for the damage caused to all natural or legal persons concerned”.

States’ obligations

It further stated that “all States are under an obligation not to recognize as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence” of Israel.

States are also under the obligation to “not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by the continued presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”.

International organizations’ obligations

For international organizations, including the UN, the Court noted the “obligation not to recognize as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence” of Israel.

The ICJ further noted that UN, and especially the General Assembly and the Security Council, “should consider the precise modalities and further action required to bring to an end as rapidly as possible the unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

Call for engagement

Following the issuance of the opinion, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated his call for the parties to re-engage on the “long-delayed political path” towards ending the occupation and resolving the conflict in line with international law, relevant UN resolutions and bilateral agreements.

“The only viable path is the vision of two States – Israel and a fully independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestinian State – living side by side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States,” his spokesperson said in a statement.

The statement also noted that the UN chief will promptly transmit the advisory opinion to the General Assembly, which had requested the Court’s advice.

“It is for the General Assembly to decide how to proceed in this matter,” the statement added.

Israel’s response

According to media reports, Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected the ICJ’s opinion as “fundamentally wrong” and “blatantly one-sided”.

It also repeated its stance that a political settlement in the region can only be reached through “direct negotiations”.

General Assembly request

The General Assembly adopted a resolution in December 2022, which among other points requested the ICJ to provide its opinion under Article 96 of the UN Charter and Article 65 of the Court’s Statute. 

The opinion lays out the legal consequences of Israel’s “ongoing violation” of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, from its prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of territories occupied since 1967, and discriminatory measures, including those affecting Jerusalem’s demographic composition and status.

It also sought to understand how these policies and practices of Israel affect the legal status of the occupation and its legal consequences.