Daily Peace and Crisis Report — Friday 24 Apr 2026

1. Gaza & West Bank

The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza deepened this week as Israeli forces continued strikes across the territory, including a drone strike near Al-Qassam mosque in Beit Lahia on 22 April that killed five Palestinians — among them three children — according to Gaza's civil defence agency. Al Jazeera

The cumulative death toll in Gaza since 7 October 2023 has risen to at least 72,568, with 172,320 injured, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health as reported by WAFA. Since the October 2025 ceasefire took effect, Israeli forces have killed at least 786 Palestinians and injured 2,217 more, with 761 bodies recovered from rubble. WAFA

Gaza's Government Media Office stated that Israel has committed more than 2,400 violations of the ceasefire agreement, including targeted strikes, arrests, blockades, and the forced restriction of food, medicine, and shelter materials. UN Women reported that an average of at least 47 women and girls were killed each day during the war — more than 38,000 in total between October 2023 and December 2025. Al Jazeera

Aid inflows to Gaza declined by 37 per cent between the first and second three-month periods following the ceasefire, according to OCHA's Humanitarian Situation Report of 17 April 2026. Between 11 January and 11 April 2026, the UN and partners delivered less than 105,000 metric tons of humanitarian aid — down from more than 167,600 metric tons in the preceding three months — due to reduced crossing operations, increased cargo returns, and scanning malfunctions at Ashdod Port. OCHA oPt

Environmental health conditions in Gaza have reached a critical threshold. OCHA reports that 81 per cent of assessed displacement sites show visible rodent or pest infestations affecting approximately 1.45 million people, with more than 70,000 cases of rodent and ectoparasitic infestations recorded in 2026 alone. OCHA oPt

In the West Bank, between 7 October 2023 and 22 April 2026, 1,081 Palestinians — at least 235 of them children — were killed, according to OCHA data cited by UNRWA. Two Palestinians were shot and killed by Israeli settlers on 8 and 11 April, raising to 61 the number killed in settler attacks over the past three years. In 2026, more than 2,500 Palestinians have been displaced by demolitions, settler attacks, and evictions. UNRWA; OCHA oPt

2. US–Iran Conflict & Strait of Hormuz

The US–Iran ceasefire, which took effect in late February 2026 following direct US–Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, has been extended under significant strain. President Trump announced a further extension on 22 April after initially indicating it was "highly unlikely" he would renew the agreement. Iran has not yet resumed formal peace negotiations, citing the continuation of the US naval blockade as a precondition for talks. NPR/WVPE

Iran announced it is collecting tolls for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a development that has alarmed global energy markets. The US and Iran had previously agreed to a two-week ceasefire that included the reopening of the Strait; however, tensions have continued to escalate, with vessels reporting gunfire and Iran reimposing strict military controls. Democracy Now!

The UN welcomed the ceasefire extension and urged both parties to pursue lasting diplomatic talks. The WHO has issued its fifth global situation report on the Middle East conflict escalation, covering health system impacts across the region. ReliefWeb / WHO

3. Israel–Lebanon Ceasefire

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect on 17 April 2026 at 17:00 Eastern Time, brokered by the United States. Thousands of displaced residents began returning to southern Lebanon following the announcement. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the ceasefire as placing the country on the verge of a "new phase" of "permanent agreements." NPR/WMKY

However, the ceasefire remains fragile. Israeli forces reported two soldiers killed in southern Lebanon in the days following the truce, and Israeli media reported ongoing protests within Israel over the terms of the agreement. Al Jazeera journalist Mohammed Wishah was killed in a drone strike west of Gaza City on 8 April, one of 32 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in April alone. Al Jazeera

4. Ukraine–Russia War

Ukraine's military said on 24 April that it is in its strongest frontline position "in a year," attributing gains to improved drone tactics. Analysis by Russia Matters using ISW data shows 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, following a net loss of 4 square miles in the preceding four-week period. Russia's average monthly territorial gains over the past 12 months have been approximately 160 square miles. Russia Matters

Russia launched more drones targeting Ukraine in March 2026 than in any other month of the war — 7,889 drones, 12 ballistic missiles, and 101 cruise missiles — though Ukrainian forces intercepted 92 per cent of drones and 87 per cent of cruise missiles. None of the 12 ballistic missiles were intercepted. Russia Matters

OHCHR's March 2026 Protection of Civilians report recorded at least 211 civilians killed and 1,206 injured in Ukraine during March — a 49 per cent increase compared to February 2026 and the highest monthly toll since July 2025. The vast majority (97 per cent) of casualties occurred in government-controlled territory. In the first quarter of 2026, civilian casualties (556 killed; 2,731 injured) were 20 per cent higher than the same period in 2025. OHCHR Ukraine

Cumulative verified civilian casualties since 24 February 2022 stand at approximately 15,578 killed and 41,000+ injured, according to OHCHR data as of March 2026. OHCHR has been denied access to Russian-occupied territories (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea), meaning civilian casualties in those areas cannot be independently verified. The Russian government has cited approximately 8,000 "peaceful Russians killed" from Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory, while the UN has separately cited 15,364 civilians killed in Ukraine. Russia Matters; OHCHR Ukraine

Russia presently controls approximately 29,152 square miles of Ukrainian territory seized since 24 February 2022 — about 13 per cent of Ukraine — and approximately 45,777 square miles in total including Crimea and pre-2022 Donbas holdings (about 20 per cent of Ukraine). Some 9.6 million Ukrainians remain displaced, including 3.7 million internally and 5.9 million as international refugees. Russia Matters

5. Sudan

Sudan's civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has entered its fourth year with no end in sight. The UN estimates that more than 150,000 people have been killed since fighting erupted in April 2023, with some estimates suggesting the toll could surpass 200,000. Approximately 14 million people have been displaced. UN News

The UN Spokesperson expressed deep alarm on 22 April over continued insecurity in the Darfur region, following a drone strike that killed more than 10 people in Um Dukhun, Central Darfur state. In the Kutum locality of North Darfur, insecurity forced 115 people to flee their homes, seeking refuge in El Fasher. The WHO is midway through a vaccination campaign targeting over 81,000 young children in West Darfur. UN News

Between January and March 2026, at least 160 children were reportedly killed and 85 maimed across Sudan — a 50 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2025. The SAF conducted a drone strike on a wedding celebration on 10 April, killing at least 40 people and burning dozens of homes. CFR Global Conflict Tracker; The Whig

6. Democratic Republic of Congo

Peace talks between the DRC government and the AFC/M23 rebel movement continued under the Doha process, with representatives meeting in Switzerland from 13–17 April 2026. The African Union welcomed progress in the eastern DRC peace process on 21 April. However, military tensions persist, with FARDC forces reportedly readying to break a ceasefire in South Kivu. The Great Lakes Eye

MONUSCO head James Swan visited Beni in North Kivu on 21 April, meeting with local authorities and civil society representatives to reaffirm the centrality of civilian protection in UN operations. The Security Council also held a live briefing on the DRC crisis during the week. MONUSCO

7. Haiti

The UN Security Council convened on 23 April 2026 to address Haiti's deepening crisis. The UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) killed 1,343 suspected gang members and seized 140 firearms between December and February, but the humanitarian cost remains severe. More than 1.45 million people remain displaced by ongoing gang violence — a record high. The UN Special Representative told ambassadors that elections represent the "only legitimate path" back to political stability. UN News; Click On Detroit

More than half of Haitians continue to face a food crisis, with humanitarian access severely constrained by gang control of key supply routes. The Security Council heard calls for increased funding and effective coordination to sustain the GSF's operations. UN News

8. Somalia

Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) conducted a raid on an Al-Shabaab gathering in the Middle Shabelle region on 22 April, killing at least 33 militants. US Africa Command (AFRICOM), in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, also conducted airstrikes targeting Al-Shabaab on 15 April. Garowe Online; AFRICOM

9. Myanmar

The UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar warned this week that the country is on the brink of a full humanitarian crisis, as the military junta's air force continued strikes on civilian areas. On 19 April, the junta's air force struck areas where civilians were seeking refuge in religious spaces. The Rohingya refugee crisis deepened in 2025, with over 6,500 refugees attempting dangerous sea journeys and one in seven reported dead or missing. NHK World

10. International Cooperation & Peacekeeping

The UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) convened its annual meeting in Geneva this week, highlighting that more than 100 million people in over 60 countries live with landmine risks. Nine in ten victims are civilians, half of them children. UNMAS Director Kazumi Ogawa noted that conflict "has continued or deepened in many regions of the world," while expressing concern that some states are withdrawing from the Anti-Personnel Landmine Convention (Ottawa Treaty). UN News

The UN Security Council heard a briefing on Colombia on 21 April, with calls for calm ahead of upcoming elections. The Security Council also held a briefing on the situation in Libya and Syria during the week. The EU approved a $106 billion aid package for Ukraine to sustain its economy and military operations over the next two years. UN News

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk expressed alarm at a spike in executions for drug-related offences in Singapore, urging an immediate moratorium on the death penalty. Eight people have been executed for drug offences in 2026 so far. UN News

11. Statistics: Casualties (Killed / Wounded)

The following table presents verified or reported casualty figures for active conflicts and crises. Figures are cumulative unless otherwise noted.

* OHCHR has been denied access to Russian-occupied territories (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea); independent verification of civilian casualties in those areas is not possible. The figure for Ukraine — civilians (Govt-controlled territory) represents OHCHR's verified cumulative total as of March 2026, with approximately 97% occurring in government-controlled areas.

12. Statistics: Numbers (Non-Casualty Figures)

The following table presents key non-casualty figures including displacement, territorial control, and affected populations.

This report is compiled by the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) from publicly available sources. Source bias tags are applied per editorial policy to assist readers in contextualising information. IPAN does not endorse any party to any conflict. © IPAN 2026.