OCHA updates: Hostilities displace people in Gaza city

23 September 2025

OCHA reports that over the past 24 hours, Israeli military operations – including shelling and air strikes – continued across the Gaza Strip, particularly in Gaza city.

In a statement issued today, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) warned that Israel’s tactics are “inflicting terror on the Palestinian population of Gaza city and forcing tens of thousands to flee.” OHCHR cited a sharp increase in the number of civilians killed in Gaza city. The Office said the destruction of people’s homes is making it likely that as Palestinians are driven out of Gaza city, this displacement will be permanent.

Yesterday, partners monitoring people’s movements inside the Gaza Strip recorded more than 20,500 displacements from north to south, raising the overall number of such movements since mid-August to over 321,200.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that an attack yesterday on a primary healthcare centre run by a key partner, the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, turned the building into rubble, with two health workers reportedly injured.

This centre was among the few functioning facilities in Gaza city, providing blood donation and testing services, trauma care, cancer medications, and chronic disease treatment. The centre reportedly  employed 45 people and treated up to 1,000 patients every day. The building also housed the Gaza Community Mental Health Programmes – another WHO partner.

OCHA reiterates that civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be protected, should never be a target, and must never be used to shield military operations.

Meanwhile, Medical Aid for Palestine, which supports several hospitals – including Al Sahaba in Gaza city – warned that the facility is dangerously low on fuel. Without an urgent resupply, its life-saving services – including NICUs for critically ill or premature newborns – could be forced to shut down.

The Ministry of Health reported yesterday that two other facilities in Gaza city – Al Rantissi Children’s Hospital and the St. John Eye Hospital, the only facility providing ophthalmic care – are no longer functional.

OCHA stresses that despite immense challenges, humanitarian partners continue to do whatever they can to meet people’s urgent needs across the Strip, despite ongoing hostilities, limited supplies and restricted access.

Israeli authorities have informed the UN that Allenby bridge is closed to all movements starting tomorrow until further notice. As the only crossing between Jordan and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, it is used for imports and exports, and most of the West Bank’s 3.3 million Palestinians depend on it to travel abroad.

If this closure continues without viable alternatives, it could have a significant impact on humanitarian organizations’ ability to respond to Gaza’s already dire situation. In August, about a quarter of the supplies coming into Gaza through the UN2720 mechanism came via Jordan, mostly through Allenby. Much of the food, tents and other goods already procured are in Jordan and need quick, reliable ways to reach Gaza. The rotation of international humanitarian staff in Gaza also depends on the Allenby bridge and is on hold until solutions are found.

The UN is engaging with relevant stakeholders to urgently address these concerns.