Daily Peace and Crisis Report

Compiled Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Summary

See below for detail and source

Middle East

Gaza Strip

The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate as severe fuel shortages severely limit the provision of essential services. In the second week of June, humanitarian partners were forced to prioritize fuel allocations strictly to life-saving operations, suspending less critical services. The United Nations reported that the Kerem Shalom crossing remains the only available entry point for aid, though fuel imports remain highly restricted due to the lack of Value Added Tax exemptions and limited crossing hours UN Secretary-General. Medical sources in Gaza announced that the death toll from the Israeli military offensive has risen to 73,035 Palestinians killed and 173,368 injured since October 2023 WAFA (Pal).

West Bank

The Occupied Palestinian Territory continues to face a severe crisis with unprecedented levels of violence and deprivation extending into the West Bank. The ongoing "Operation Iron Wall" has led to significant displacement and destruction. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) notes that the situation is characterized by expanded checkpoints and a heightened military presence that severely restricts movement between Palestinian cities ReliefWeb / OCHA.

Lebanon

A ceasefire in Lebanon largely held over the weekend, marking the longest lull in hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel in three months, though fears of a collapse persist Reuters. However, prior to the lull, significant violence occurred; Israel reportedly killed 83 people in Lebanon on Friday, leading Iran to announce the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response Democracy Now!. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) observed a reduction in hostilities starting Sunday, noting no trajectories or interceptions, following intense escalations where numerous airstrikes and firing incidents were attributed to both the Israel Defence Forces and Hezbollah UN Secretary-General.

Iran–US Diplomatic Situation

Negotiations between the United States and Iran in Switzerland have yielded an agreement on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final deal within 60 days. The parties established a "High Level Committee" to oversee working groups on nuclear issues, sanctions, and dispute resolution. Crucially, a "de-confliction" cell was created to ensure the full termination of military hostilities in Lebanon, which Iranian officials described as the "first real test" of the agreement CNBC. The Iranian delegation emphasized the importance of the Lebanon ceasefire in these talks RT (Rus).

Eastern Europe

Russia–Ukraine Conflict

The conflict in Ukraine continues with intense drone and missile warfare. Ukrainian forces have launched significant drone strikes against Russian infrastructure, prompting Russian authorities to intercept approximately 300 drones and temporarily suspend operations at Moscow airport. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged to "bring the war back to Russia," emphasizing that Ukraine's response will grow stronger The Guardian. Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that civilian casualties in May reached their highest level in four years, with at least 274 civilians killed and 1,763 injured, primarily due to the use of powerful weapons in urban areas by the Russian Federation OHCHR Ukraine. In Russian-occupied territory, such as Starobilsk in the Luhansk region, a strike on an educational complex resulted in 21 civilian deaths OHCHR Ukraine.

Africa

Sudan

The humanitarian and security crisis in Sudan is escalating as Rapid Support Forces (RSF) encircle the city of el-Obeid in North Kordofan State. The United States State Department expressed deep concern over reports that the RSF is "massing forces" around the city, warning that further escalation could lead to mass atrocities and worsen the catastrophic humanitarian crisis Al Jazeera. Drone attacks have targeted multiple locations in and around el-Obeid, including power substations and medical facilities, disrupting essential services and putting civilians at increased risk UN Secretary-General. The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold a briefing on accountability for crimes against peacekeepers, highlighting the broader instability in the region Security Council Report.

Asia

Myanmar

The UN Human Rights Office released a report detailing that the Myanmar military was responsible for more than 700 civilian deaths over a six-month period ending in January 2026. The report verified a minimum of 702 civilian deaths, including 153 children, with airstrikes being the single largest cause of destruction and suffering BBC. The situation is exacerbated by a decline in international assistance, which has forced deep cuts to civil society organizations and locally driven protection mechanisms. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk emphasized that reduced funding is compounding the suffering of millions of people facing continuous attacks by the military OHCHR.

Statistics

Table 1 — Casualties (Killed / Wounded)

* OHCHR access is denied to Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine; figures for civilians in occupied territory cannot be independently verified. The vast majority (96%) of verified civilian casualties occur in Government-controlled areas.

Table 2 — Numbers (non-casualty figures)