Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2025: UK and international response

On 18 March 2025, a hostage-ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation in the UK, ended and armed conflict resumed in Gaza. 

This briefing provides information on the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) since the ending of the agreement, and the UK and international response. It also details proposals for post-conflict Gaza.

The Commons Library collection Middle East instability in 2023-25 has more on the UK and international response to the conflict between October 2023 and March 2025, as well as the conflicts in the Red Sea, Lebanon and between Israel and Iran. It also sets out activity at the UN Security Council, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Criminal Court (ICC) and the position of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

End of the January 2025 agreement

On 18 January 2025, a three-stage agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect, modelled on a UN Security Council resolution passed in May 2024. Stage one was to last 42 days and allow the release of some hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and for aid to enter Gaza. Negotiations on moving to stage two did not occur until after stage one was planned to expire but fighting did not resume until 18 March.

On 18 March 2025, Israel announced the renewal of military action against Hamas, saying Hamas had refused to accept an extension of stage one of the January agreement. Israel had stopped all aid entering Gaza on 2 March (see below for the humanitarian situation). Israel says that talks on an agreement will now take place “only under fire” and that it will “seize large areas that will be added to the security zones of the State of Israel” during operations.

Hamas has fired missiles into Israel in response, as have the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Talks regarding an agreement are ongoing.

There is also ongoing violence in the occupied West Bank and Israeli military operations targeting Hamas and other groups. Iran-supported groups such as the Houthis in Yemen, Shia militias in Iraq and Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon launched attacks on civilian shipping and against US and Israeli targets between 2023 and 2025. Iran attacked Israel in April 2024 and October 2024.

What is the humanitarian situation?

Citing Israeli authorities and the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) says that since 7 October 2023, over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been reported killed and around 5,400 injured. At least 51,000 Palestinians have been reported killed and 116,343 injured (as of 15 April 2025). In the West Bank, Israeli military operations are estimated to have displaced around 40,000.

Citing Hamas’ refusal to extend stage one of the 2025 agreement, on 2 March Israel stopped all aid into Gaza and, from 9 March, Israel cut off all of Gaza’s electricity supply. On 24 March, the UN Secretary-General said the UN would “reduce the organization’s footprint in Gaza, even as humanitarian needs soar”, due to military action and the halting of aid. Around 100 UN staff have left. UNOCHA warns that essential supplies are running low and of aid worker deaths. Israeli legislation banning engagement with UNRWA has created challenges in coordinating aid delivery in the OPTs.

On 14 March, G7 foreign ministers “reaffirmed their support for the resumption of unhindered humanitarian aid”. The governments of France, Germany and the UK have said that Israel risks breaching international humanitarian law by stopping aid. In April, Israel rejected UN agencies’ statements that supplies in Gaza are low.

What has been the UK and global response?

The UK Government backed the January 2025 agreement and said the agreement should be implemented in full. It has also expressed concern that Israel is “at risk” of breaching international law in its blocking of aid. The government did not back the expansion of Israeli military operations in April and it is opposed to any forced displacement of Palestinians, loss of territory within the Gaza Strip, or annexation by Israel. In April, the UK renewed calls for Hamas and Israel to return to talks, for the release of hostages, and for aid to enter Gaza.

The UN Secretary-General has called for a return to the January 2025 agreement, a resumption of humanitarian aid, and the unconditional and immediate release of hostages. The UN has also called for an investigation into the deaths of some aid workers during the renewed operations in 2025.

The United States says that Hamas “cannot continue to exist” and that “we stand with Israel and their efforts to defend themselves”. It expects all parties to comply with international humanitarian law. It told the UN Security Council in March that “Hamas bears full responsibility for […] the resumption of hostilities”. It says the hostages must be released immediately.

Since March 2025, the Arab League (a collection of Arab states) and the European Union have called for a ceasefire and for aid to enter Gaza.

Proposals for post-conflict Gaza in 2025

Stage two of the January 2025 hostage-ceasefire agreement had intended for the complete withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza. Stage 3 had called for the reconstruction of Gaza.

Israel, the UK and the United States are among those that say Hamas can longer govern Gaza. Israel also opposes a role for the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA. In 2025, some Hamas officials have said they are willing to step down from governing Gaza, but have said the group will not disarm. 

In March 2025, the Arab League agreed a reconstruction plan for Gaza, over three stages. The first would last six months and focus on immediate reconstruction. Gaza would be run by a temporary technocratic committee (excluding Hamas and the Palestinian Authority). Germany, France, Italy and the UK welcomed the plan.

The Arab League’s plan is seen as a counter to the statements by President Trump in 2025 for Palestinians to leave Gaza, either temporarily or permanently, to enable US-led reconstruction. No US troops or funding would be used. In March, President Trump also said that “nobody’s expelling any Palestinians”.

The UN Secretary-General said that “it is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law. It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing”. Jordan and Egypt, likely recipient states for any Palestinian refugees, have strongly criticised President Trump’s statement, as has the Arab League and the Palestinian Authority. The UK Government says that there must be no forced displacement from Gaza and that Palestinians have the right to return to their homes.

Israel and the US rejected the Arab League plan, though a later US statement said the plan was a “good faith first step”. The Israeli Government says the US plan “should be encouraged”, and in March established an office to prepare and enable “voluntary departure [of Palestinians] to third countries”.

In April, the French President signalled that France may be willing to recognise a Palestinian state at an international conference in June as part of a “reciprocal recognition [of Israel] by several [other] countries” . Israel said recognition would be a “prize for terror and a boost for Hamas”.

The UK Government says it will recognise a Palestinian state alongside a “safe and secure Israel” when it judges this will best support the peace process. Dame Emily Thornberry, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said in April that the UK “need to do it [recognise a Palestinian state] with the French”.