Palestine, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (27 July 2026) | United Nations

Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for Secretary-general António Guterres. Highlights: Secretary-general/Cyprus Secretary-general/Syria West Bank Occupied Palestinian Territory Lebanon Security Council Sudan Democratic Republic of the Congo Rwanda League of Arab States UN Refugee Agency/Goodwill Ambassador SECRETARY-GENERAL/CYPRUS The Secretary-General is currently on his way to Cyprus, where he will meet with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, as well as other stakeholders. He will discuss efforts to advance the peace process and support stability on the island, including through the work of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The Secretary-General is expected to return to New York on Wednesday. SECRETARY-GENERAL/SYRIA Earlier today, before departing for Cyprus, the Secretary-General met in Amman with Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi. They discussed regional developments. The Secretary-General had spent the previous two days in Syria. Before departing Syria, the Secretary-General held a press conference, during which he welcomed recent steps to ease sanctions on Syria and create new opportunities for economic recovery. He stressed, however, that all remaining sanctions should be lifted without delay and emphasized that Syria's recovery will also require sustained political support, economic engagement and practical assistance from the international community. During his meetings with President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani and other officials, the Secretary-General welcomed the progress achieved in Syria's political transition and underscored the importance of sustaining this momentum through inclusive participation, with a view to building a peaceful, stable and prosperous Syria for all Syrians. He reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to support the Syrian people and work in close partnership with the Syrian authorities during this important period of transition. In Damascus, the Secretary-General met with women's organizations, civil society representatives and members of Syria's diverse communities. He also met with representatives of the National Transitional Justice Commission, the Missing Persons Commission, the Women's Peace and Security Commission, the Electoral Commission and the Speaker of Parliament. In all his meetings, the Secretary-General reaffirmed that we stand ready to assist all efforts to promote accountability, transitional justice, human rights and reconciliation; build confidence among communities; and ensure the meaningful participation of all Syrians: women and men, young people, and all components of Syria’s remarkable and diverse society.  On Saturday, the Secretary-General visited Sednaya Prison. He said that the site stands as a stark reminder of the horrendous oppression under the previous Syrian regime. Although the Secretary-General had planned to visit the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), scheduling constraints prevented that visit from taking place. Instead, he met in Damascus with the UNDOF Force Commander, Major General Anita Asmah, as well as the Governor of Quneitra and representatives of local communities. WEST BANK The Secretary-General is deeply concerned at the recent announcement by the Israeli authorities of a series of measures in response to recent attacks, including reports of an accelerated process to legalize farm outposts and establish new ones in the occupied West Bank. The Secretary-General reiterates that all settlements, including outposts, have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law. Such settlements remain a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace. OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expressed their deep alarm concerning the escalation of violence across the West Bank in recent days.   Since Thursday, at least eight Palestinians – including one child – as well as two Israelis have been killed. Many others have been injured. Homes, mosques, trees and agriculture structures have been set on fire or otherwise vandalized and, in some cases, destroyed. At least 10 Palestinian families have been displaced in the course of the latest violence.  In parallel, Israeli forces have tightened their restrictions on Palestinian movements and access across many areas of the West Bank, preventing thousands of people from reaching essential services, such as emergency medical care and the sources of their livelihoods.  Since the beginning of this year, OCHA has documented more than 1,330 incidents involving Israeli settlers that resulted in casualties, property damage or both.