By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Three Palestinians were killed as UN officials warned of ethnic cleansing and worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

Key Developments

• Three Palestinians were killed and several others wounded as Israeli attacks continued despite the Gaza ceasefire.
• UN officials warned of strong indications of forced displacement and possible ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank.
• Humanitarian agencies reported severe aid restrictions, widespread destruction and rapidly worsening living conditions.

Casualties Continue despite Ceasefire

Three more Palestinians were killed over the past 24 hours as Israeli attacks continued across Gaza despite the ceasefire agreement, while United Nations officials issued fresh warnings about forced displacement and possible ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The developments came as Gaza health authorities released updated casualty figures and international agencies warned that killings, destruction, and humanitarian collapse continue despite the reduction in large-scale fighting.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced the arrival of three Palestinians to hospitals over the previous 24 hours, including two newly killed Palestinians and another who later succumbed to injuries.

The occupation’s naval boats are approaching the shores of Khan Younis in a terrifying and aggressive manner, opening heavy fire toward people who were simply relaxing by the beach.

They are stripping away what remains of our basic right to live, day after day. There are victims… pic.twitter.com/ZtdkH08VRn

— Eng Ibraheem almassri from gaza🍉🇵🇸 (@_alturky2001) May 18, 2026

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza also reported that Palestinian fishermen were injured by Israeli naval fire off the coast of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

The latest casualties followed another Israeli attack near the Bani Suheila roundabout east of Khan Yunis, where an Israeli drone strike killed one Palestinian and wounded another.

Israeli attacks and shootings have continued across Gaza despite the ceasefire agreement announced on October 11, 2025.

According to Gaza health officials, the number of Palestinians killed since the ceasefire came into effect has now reached 880, while 2,605 others have been wounded and 776 additional cases involved rescues and recoveries.

The cumulative toll since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023 has now risen to 72,772 Palestinians killed and 172,707 wounded.

UN Warns of Permanent Displacement

As the death toll continued rising, the United Nations issued some of its strongest warnings in recent weeks regarding developments in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

In a new report, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said actions carried out by Israel since October 2023 represented serious violations of international law and, in some cases, could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Türk called on Israel to comply with the 2024 order issued by the International Court of Justice requiring measures aimed at preventing genocide in Gaza.

He urged Israel to ensure its forces do not commit genocidal acts and to hold accountable those responsible for violations and incitement.

بصوت يملؤه الوجع.. فلسطيني بمواصي خانيونس يصرخ: "وقفت التكية، مش قادرين نطعمي ولادنا". pic.twitter.com/ie9cz6Eeih

— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) May 18, 2026

Meanwhile, Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territory, warned that although the ceasefire reduced the overall scale of violence, killings and infrastructure destruction continued almost daily.

The report also highlighted widespread forced displacement in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

UN officials said the destruction of neighborhoods and refugee camps, particularly in northern areas, had pushed large numbers of Palestinians from their homes and warned there were “strong indications” that Israel intended to make displacement permanent.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

Separately, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned that living conditions in Gaza remained catastrophic.

The agency said most residents remain displaced and continue facing severe health and environmental risks amid ongoing attacks targeting residential areas.

According to OCHA, only one out of every two aid trucks entering Gaza from Egypt during the first ten days of May successfully unloaded cargo through crossings controlled by Israel.

The agency also cited estimates from the World Health Organization indicating that more than 43,000 Palestinians in Gaza have suffered life-changing injuries while rehabilitation systems remain under enormous strain.

In the occupied West Bank, OCHA reported that Israeli forces demolished 45 Palestinian-owned structures between May 5 and 11.

The report also pointed to a dramatic increase in settler attacks, stating that incidents involving casualties and property damage had risen fourteen-fold compared to 2020 averages.

(PC, UN website, Al Mayadeen, WAFA)