Hamas announced the dissolution of its governing body in Gaza after nearly two decades in power, clearing the way for a technocratic committee backed by the UN to take over civilian administration. Israel dismissed the move as a 'stunt.'
UN human rights chief Volker Turk has warned of an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in El Obeid, Sudan, amid fears of an imminent assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Reports indicate ongoing bombardment, including drone strikes, that are hitting critical infrastructure and restricting movement as civilians struggle to access food and water.
A US federal judge overturned sanctions imposed on UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese, who had been sanctioned after recommending war crimes prosecutions over Gaza. Judge Richard Leon wrote that 'Albanese has done nothing more than speak.'
The United Nations human rights chief warned that intensifying violence and increased use of drones in Sudan's conflict have killed approximately 880 civilians in the first three months of 2026, with most deaths concentrated in Kordofan and Darfur regions, though strikes are spreading to other areas.
The UN's International Maritime Organization reported that around 1,500 ships and approximately 20,000 seafarers remain trapped in the Persian Gulf due to the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, facing severe hardship as the standoff continues.
A second French soldier died from wounds suffered in a weekend ambush against UN peacekeepers in Lebanon that France has blamed on Hezbollah. The attack occurred during the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
A joint EU-UN assessment found that more than $71 billion will be needed over the next decade for recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, with devastation affecting housing, health, education, commerce, and agriculture sectors.
