Daily Peace and Crisis Report — Saturday 25 Apr 2026

Summary:

• Gaza remains the world's most acute humanitarian emergency, with the death toll since 7 October 2023 surpassing 72,500, and over 786 additional fatalities recorded since the ceasefire breakdown on 10 October 2025. A new EU–UN assessment finds Gaza's human development has been set back by 77 years, with reconstruction needs estimated at US$71.4 billion.
• In the occupied West Bank, three Palestinian teenagers were killed in a single week, settler attacks continue at an average of six incidents per day, and OCHA has documented a record 925 movement obstacles — the highest in 20 years.
• The Israel–Lebanon ceasefire has been extended by three weeks following talks brokered by US President Trump, but Israeli strikes have continued inside Lebanon, with the IDF reporting the killing of six Hezbollah members during the truce period.
• US–Iran nuclear and security talks remain fragile, with the ceasefire extended after initial uncertainty over whether Iran would attend new talks in Islamabad. Yemen's Houthi movement has declared it will not remain neutral and is threatening renewed Red Sea operations.
• Ukraine and Russia exchanged 193 prisoners of war each — one of the few areas of cooperation — while the frontline remains largely static, with Russian forces suffering a net loss of 2 square miles over the past four weeks. OHCHR has verified at least 15,578 Ukrainian civilian deaths since February 2022.
• Sudan's civil war, now in its third year, has killed an estimated 150,000 civilians and displaced over 14 million people. Le Monde describes it as "the world's worst humanitarian crisis," with the conflict now spilling across borders into Chad and Ethiopia.
• Myanmar's military junta has imposed martial law across 60 townships, even as it calls for peace talks, while continuing to bomb resistance-held territories.
• In the Democratic Republic of Congo, SADC troops have begun withdrawing through Rwanda as part of a phased exit from eastern DRC, raising concerns about a security vacuum.
• Somalia's intelligence services conducted a large-scale operation killing over 33 al-Shabaab fighters in Middle Shabelle, with EU support through the African Union stabilisation mission.
• 24 April marked the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres calling for renewed commitment to dialogue and collective action in the face of multiple simultaneous crises.

The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains catastrophic. Data from the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza, reported by OCHA, indicates that between 15 and 21 April, 18 Palestinians were killed, three died of wounds, one body was retrieved, and 79 people were injured. The overall reported casualty toll since the ceasefire announcement on 10 October 2025 has reached 786 fatalities and 2,217 injuries. A further 196 fatalities were retroactively added after identification details were approved by MoH. The cumulative death toll since 7 October 2023 has surpassed 72,549 killed and 172,274 wounded, according to Al Jazeera citing Gaza MoH.

A new joint assessment by the European Union and the United Nations, released on 20 April, found that over 24 months of escalated hostilities have caused catastrophic infrastructure damage. Total recovery and reconstruction needs are estimated at US$71.4 billion over the next decade, with physical infrastructure damage alone assessed at $35.2 billion. Over 370,000 housing units and nearly all schools have been destroyed or damaged, more than half of hospitals are non-functional, and Gaza's economy has contracted by 84 per cent. Human development in Gaza has been set back by an estimated 77 years. UN/OCHA Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment

On 17 April, two civilian contractors working on behalf of UNICEF were killed by Israeli fire while delivering drinking water at the Mansoura filling station in northern Gaza. UNICEF suspended water collection at that location, affecting supply to Gaza City. OCHA

Aid entry into Gaza surged between 14 and 20 April, with approximately 17,400 pallets of UN and partner aid offloaded at Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings — a significant increase from the 7,400 pallets the previous week, attributable to the reopening of Zikim Crossing. However, prices remain significantly elevated compared to pre-October 2023 levels. OCHA

UN Women reported that between October 2023 and December 2025, more than 38,000 women and girls were killed in Gaza — an average of 47 per day. Euronews; UN Women Technical Note

Violence in the occupied West Bank has intensified sharply. Three Palestinian teenagers were killed in a single week, with the latest — a 15-year-old — shot by Israeli forces during a raid in Nablus on 23 April. Al Jazeera; PBS NewsHour

Israeli settler attacks are occurring at an average of six incidents per day in 2026. Between 14 and 20 April, OCHA documented at least 37 settler attacks, with over 260 Palestinian-owned trees and saplings vandalized, 14 vehicles damaged (including an ambulance), and at least 170 livestock stolen. OCHA

OCHA's latest field survey documents 925 movement obstacles across the West Bank — the highest number recorded in the past 20 years and 43 per cent above the two-decade average. Since January 2023, 45 Palestinian communities have been fully displaced due to settler attacks and access restrictions, including nine communities in 2026. OCHA

A report by the West Bank Protection Consortium found that sexualised and gender-based violence is being used "within a coercive environment that contributes to the forcible transfer of Palestinian communities," with more than 70 per cent of displaced households identifying threats to women and children as the decisive reason for leaving. OCHA

US President Donald Trump announced on 23 April that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks. The extension follows White House-hosted talks and offers a potential pause in hostilities. However, Israeli forces have continued strikes inside Lebanon during the truce, with the IDF reporting the killing of six Hezbollah members. UN News; CNN

The United Nations is working to maintain a presence in Lebanon after the UNIFIL peacekeeping mandate expires in 2027. UN Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix told reporters that continued support from member states will be "indispensable" to bolster Lebanon's national armed forces. Reuters

The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran has been extended following uncertainty over whether Iran would attend new peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan. US Vice-President JD Vance was expected to attend, but Iran had not confirmed its participation as of 24 April. President Trump has threatened further action if talks fail. MSN/AP; DW

Yemen's Houthi movement has declared it will not remain neutral in the broader regional conflict and is reportedly considering imposing a toll on Red Sea shipping. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned on 21 April that Yemen would "return to fighting" even if the US–Iran ceasefire holds. Jerusalem Post; FDD Long War Journal

The UN Special Envoy for Yemen held talks with Saudi Arabian and Houthi representatives in Amman under the UN Military Co-ordination Committee framework, seeking to sustain a diplomatic track. The National

The frontline in Ukraine remains largely static. Analysis of Institute for the Study of War (ISW) data by Russia Matters indicates that Russian forces suffered a net loss of 2 square miles of Ukrainian territory in the four-week period from 24 March to 21 April 2026. Russia currently controls approximately 29,152 square miles of Ukrainian territory seized since 24 February 2022 — about 13 per cent of Ukraine. Including Crimea and pre-2022 Donbas holdings, Russia controls roughly 20 per cent of Ukraine. Russia Matters

Russia and Ukraine exchanged 193 prisoners of war each on 25 April — the second such exchange this month and one of the few areas of cooperation between the two sides. Grand Junction Sentinel/AP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that he is open to a ceasefire with Russia but does not foresee it happening imminently. The European Council, European Commission, and Ukraine issued a joint statement on 23 April underscoring "the necessity of applying further pressure on Russia to cease its aggression and engage in meaningful negotiations towards peace." CNN; European Council

OHCHR has verified that at least 15,578 Ukrainian civilians, including 784 children, have been killed since 24 February 2022. A further 43,352 civilians, including 1,779 children, have been injured. In March 2026 alone, at least 211 civilians were killed and 1,206 injured — the highest monthly toll since July 2025. OHCHR Ukraine; UN DPPA

Russia launched 7,889 drones, 12 ballistic missiles, and 101 cruise missiles in March 2026 alone — the highest drone volume of any month in the war. Ukraine intercepted 92 per cent of drones but none of the 12 ballistic missiles. Russia Matters

Prince Harry visited Kyiv on 23 April to highlight the humanitarian impact of landmines and support demining operations. Euronews

Russian perspective: The Russian government claims 8,000 "peaceful Russians" have been killed by Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory. Russia Matters (citing RF government figures)

Sudan's civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), now entering its third year, has killed an estimated 150,000 civilians and displaced over 14 million people — nearly one in three Sudanese. Le Monde describes the conflict as "the world's worst humanitarian crisis." Death toll estimates range from 150,000 to 400,000, with both the SAF and RSF accused of atrocities. Le Monde; CFR Global Conflict Tracker

The conflict is increasingly spilling across borders, implicating Ethiopia, Chad, and other neighbouring states. On 10 April, Sudan's armed forces killed at least 40 civilians in a drone strike on a wedding celebration. Stimson Center; CFR

As of December 2025, an estimated 12–13 million people have been forcibly displaced since the conflict began in April 2023, approximately 9.5 million of them internally. ReliefWeb

SADC (Southern African Development Community) troops have begun withdrawing from eastern DRC through Rwanda as part of a phased exit, raising concerns about a security vacuum in conflict-affected areas. The African Union Commission Chairperson welcomed progress in the DRC peace process on 18 April. DW

At least 43 people were killed in northeastern DRC in an attack blamed on Islamic State-linked ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) rebels, according to the Congolese army. Death sentences have soared following the lifting of a moratorium on capital punishment. AFP/Instagram

Mozambique faces a dual humanitarian crisis of conflict and natural disaster. The National Institute for Disaster Management reports that more than 724,000 people have been affected by floods in 2026. Separately, IOM displacement tracking recorded 661,532 internally displaced persons nationwide as of February 2026, a 9 per cent increase. In Cabo Delgado province, intensified attacks by non-state armed groups in April have driven new waves of displacement. ReliefWeb; OCHA

Somali intelligence services conducted a large-scale operation in Middle Shabelle on 22 April, killing over 33 al-Shabaab fighters. The operation was described as disrupting planned attacks by the group. The European Union announced additional support through the European Peace Facility for the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Garowe Online; European Council

Myanmar's military junta has imposed martial law across 60 townships in nine states and regions, transferring sweeping powers to the military even as the regime calls for peace talks. The Arakan Army now controls all but three of Rakhine State's 17 townships, and resistance forces including the Karen National Liberation Army continue to make gains. The junta has continued bombing resistance-held territories while extending the state of emergency for 90 days. Reuters; Irrawaddy

Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti as part of a multinational security support mission have begun returning home, prompting protests from some Haitian civilians who fear the return of gang violence in their absence. Haitian communities have expressed deep concern about the security vacuum that may follow the departure of international forces. Citizen TV Kenya; AFP

24 April marked the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, established by the United Nations to reaffirm the value of global cooperation, dialogue, and collective action. The day comes as the UN faces simultaneous crises across Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar, and the DRC. UN Secretary-General António Guterres used the occasion to call for renewed commitment to multilateral institutions and peaceful dispute resolution. UN News

Russia and Ukraine completed a prisoner-of-war exchange of 193 soldiers each on 25 April — the second exchange this month and a rare example of direct cooperation between the two sides. AP