THREAD 🧵

The UN Security Council held a meeting today to discuss “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.” Here are some of important moments, starting with United States Ambassador Dorothy Shea, the acting representative to the UN. After Israel unilaterally reneged on the mutually agreed ceasefire deal and launched scores of air strikes across Gaza killing more than 400 Palestinians overnight, Shea said, “the blame for resumption of hostilities lies solely with Hamas.”

Amidst reports that President Trump green-lit the Israeli massacres that killed 174 children and 89 women in just a matter of hours, Ambassador Shea said, “we must recognize Hamas’ savagery for what it is.”

2/ The meeting began with a briefing from UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher who delivered a stark warning on the humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Fletcher expressed deep concern over the resumption of Israeli airstrikes and of Israel unilaterally ending the ceasefire, describing the situation as “our worst fears materialized overnight.”

He also addressed Israel’s complete blockade of essential life-saving supplies since March 2, which has left Gaza’s 2.1 million residents without food, medical supplies, fuel, and cooking gas. “This complete blockade of essential aid, basic necessities, and commercial items will have catastrophic consequences for the people of Gaza, who rely on a consistent flow of support into the region,” he said. Fletcher noted that U.N. requests to access aid stockpiled at the Kerem Shalom crossing had repeatedly been denied.

3/ Fletcher addressed how UN was able to scale up relief operations during the ceasefire, sharing key metrics. He noted that Israel had imposed stifling new regulations that severely restricted entry of aid workers and NGOs, not just UNRWA.

“We cannot and must not revert to conditions that existed before the ceasefire or allow a total denial of humanitarian assistance. It is imperative to protect civilians and address their fundamental needs. International law must be upheld.”

4/ Fletcher reported on Israeli violence in the West Bank where at least 95 Palestinians, including 17 children, have been killed since the start of 2025. He described widespread destruction and forced displacement caused by Israeli military operations and settler violence.

“Hundreds of Israeli settlers have launched large scale attacks on Palestinian villages… madam President, colleagues, members of the Security Council—will we be able to say we did what we could?”