Escalating conflicts across the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, Syria, Sudan, and Haiti have resulted in unprecedented humanitarian
crises, mass displacement, and international concern. Recent developments in
each region highlight the growing challenges facing civilians, as world leaders
and agencies call for urgent action and condemn ongoing violence.
In a sweeping surge of conflict and humanitarian
catastrophe, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Sudan, and Haiti are
witnessing intensifying violence, mass displacement, and a deepening disregard
for human rights, according to major media outlets, UN reports, and government
statements released in July 2025.
Israeli Military Action and Legislation
As documented by the UK House of Commons Library and the
Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, since 21 January 2025, Israel
initiated a large-scale military operation in the northern Occupied West Bank,
including the first use of tanks in two decades. This operation killed
over 70 Palestinians, levelled numerous residential buildings, and displaced
more than 40,000 Palestinians—the largest upheaval since 1967. On 30
January, the Knesset passed legislation aimed at dismantling the UN Relief and
Works Agency (UNRWA)'s work in Israeli-controlled territories, significantly
undermining humanitarian relief operations.
Ceasefire Developments and Gaza Humanitarian Crisis
According to the Commons Library and the Global Centre for
R2P, following a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in January, Israeli authorities
on 18 March declared its renewal of military action due to Hamas’s refusal to
extend the agreement. Israel subsequently stopped all aid into Gaza on 2
March and shut off all electricity from 9 March. The result: severe shortages
of essentials and yet another phase of escalated violence.
Citing figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs given to the House of Commons Library, over 54,607
Palestinians and over 1,200 Israelis have been killed since the start of the
current cycle in October 2023, with more than 632,000 Palestinians displaced in
Gaza and 40,000 in the West Bank. Israeli operations to extend “security
zones” in Gaza were met with international criticism. In March, foreign
ministers from G7 countries and governments of France, Germany, and the UK
warned that halting aid risked breaching international humanitarian law.
Despite Israel’s announcements in May that some food
shipments would be allowed, the UN and UK described the measures as
“inadequate,” while the new so-called “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation,” a non-UN
distribution body backed by Israel and the US, has been condemned by the UN as
a violation of humanitarian principles. The UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights reported 875 Palestinians killed since the GHF’s operationalisation,
mostly around its aid distribution points.
Home Demolitions and Displacement
As recently highlighted by ReliefWeb, the first half of 2025
saw a record number of Palestinian children displaced from the West Bank,
primarily due to home demolitions ordered by Israeli authorities, further
compounding the humanitarian emergency.
Statements of Condemnation
As stated in a joint statement hosted by the Norwegian Government,
governments called for the immediate release of hostages still held captive by
Hamas since October 2023, condemning their ongoing detention and all forms of
violence against civilians.
Syria: Who Holds Power After Assad’s Fall?
Political Upheaval and Continuing Violence
As thoroughly reported by the UK House of Commons Library
and the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, the government of
President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December 2024 after a 12-day
offensive by a coalition led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Since then, the
transitional government briefly operated under Ahmed al-Sharaa, but was
dissolved by April 2025, replaced by a new government and constitutional
declaration.
While major fighting subsided, violence between the Syrian
National Army (SNA), the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Turkish-backed
groups has surged in the north and east, resulting in the displacement of
approximately 1.1 million people as of early 2025 and sustained threats to
minority groups, notably the Alawites and Druze. Amnesty International’s
report on the March 2025 killing of Alawite civilians has fuelled further
sectarian tensions, with President Sharaa pledging investigations into these
incidents.
Humanitarian Situation and Refugee Returns
With more than 16.5 million people needing humanitarian
assistance and more than 6.2 million refugees in neighbouring countries,
Syria’s situation remains dire. The UN Refugee Agency has reported that despite
these circumstances, more than 500,000 refugees have returned to Syria since
Assad’s removal in December 2024.
The UK Government’s stance, according to the parliamentary library briefing, calls for investigations into sectarian violence and cautions Israel to
“refrain from actions that risk destabilising Syria”.
Israel
maintains control over the Golan Heights and has conducted strikes against
military targets in southern Syria, citing increased threats since Assad’s
ousting.
Why Is the Sudanese War Intensifying?
Civil War Escalates and Civilians Suffer
As outlined by Vibhu Mishra for the UN News and strongly
articulated in the official statement by Mohamed Chande Othman, Chair of the UN
Fact-Finding Mission, Sudan’s civil war, raging since April 2023 between the
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), continues to
generate devastating consequences for civilians.
Both media and UN sources confirm the following:
- A
sharp increase in heavy weaponry deployed in civilian areas.
- Systematic
sexual and gender-based violence.
- Hospitals
under siege and humanitarian relief weaponised.
- More
than 13 million displaced, tens of thousands killed, and countless
subjected to looting, destruction of homes, and attacks on infrastructure.
Anne Marie Schryer, IRC East Africa Advocacy Coordinator,
told the International Rescue Committee:
“Enough is enough. More words can no longer capture the catastrophic toll of this devastating conflict on over 30 million lives; the failure of diplomatic actors to respond effectively has allowed Sudan’s crisis to worsen beyond measure.”
Ethnic cleansing has been reported in Darfur, with fighters
on both sides repeatedly accused of targeting civilians. International actors
have faced criticism for funnelling arms rather than fostering peace, deepening
the catastrophe.
Cholera Outbreak
Sudan’s Ministry of Health confirmed more than 60,000
cholera cases and over 1,600 deaths between August 2024 and May 2025, adding a
public health emergency to the ongoing war.
Unchecked Gang Violence and Displacement
By resolution of the UN Security Council and as reported by
Vibhu Mishra for UN News, Haiti’s downward spiral has resulted in over 1.3
million people displaced and more than 4,000 killed in the first half of 2025
alone. The capital, Port-au-Prince, is now 85% controlled by gangs, while
rural areas face the proliferation of criminal groups acting as de facto governments.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk,
stated:
“Caught in the middle of this unending horror story are the Haitian people, who are at the mercy of horrific violence by gangs and exposed to human rights violations from the security forces and abuses by the so-called ‘self-defence’ groups.”
Humanitarian and Security Response
On 2 July 2025, the Security Council unanimously renewed the
UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), reaffirming international support for a
Haitian-led solution to the crisis and calling for urgent international backing
for the Multinational Security Support mission.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres wrote to the Council:
“Each new wave of criminal attacks against the communities and institutions of Haiti is a distressing sign that time is running out.”
Sanctions and International Travel Warnings
The European Union extended its sanctions regime on gang
leaders on 15 July 2025 for another year, as reported in an official press
release. On 17 July, the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an
urgent advisory, strongly warning against all travel to Haiti due to rampant
gang violence and instability, especially in Port-au-Prince and its
surroundings.