Gaza Briefing – 21 to 28 August 2026
Page Updated: 28 August 2026
The NCF’s weekly overview of developments in Gaza, including the humanitarian situation, aid, peace efforts and related developments.
Weekly Statistics
Since 7th October 2023
Palestine (Gaza) Israel
Fatalities: 73,489 Injuries: 174,266 | Fatalities: ~2,240 Injuries: 3,004 |
Since the ceasefire on October 10 2025
Fatalities: 1,301 Injuries: 4,486 | Fatalities: 5 Injuries: 20 |
This week:
Fatalities 38 Injuries : 135 | No injuries or fatalities confirmed in available reporting |
Reported by Health Cluster WHO, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health According to the Israeli government’s official numbers and Israeli media
Humanitarian Aid : 21-28 August
Movements of Aid:
UN-coordinated Aid totals 387 trucks:
239 Trucks arrived at intended destination in Gaza
148 Trucks offloaded at crossings along Gaza’s perimeter
Reported by UNOPS, UN2720 Mechanism for Gaza.
By Route (UN-Manifested Aid, 21–28 August)
| Route | Pallets | Trucks | Weight (t) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Israel (direct) | 156 | 5 | 119.33 |
| Israel (via Ashdod) | 1,503 | 74 | 1,146.38 |
| Jordan (Back-to-Back) | 147 | 7 | 41.69 |
| Egyptian/Other | 1,161 | 51 | 875.74 |
| West Bank | 229 | 11 | 286.23 |
Total: 3,196 pallets, 148 trucks, 2,469.372 tonnes, across 24 requests. Largest contributing organizations: WFP (92 trucks), UNICEF (36 trucks), World Central Kitchen (8 trucks), Catholic Relief Services (7 trucks), FAO (4 trucks), WHO (1 truck).
Source: UN2720 Mechanism Monitoring & Tracking Dashboard, UNOPS (date range 2026-08-21 to 2026-08-28). Note: the dashboard reports by delivery route rather than by named crossing; per UNOPS, all these routes are offloaded via Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem and Erez West/Zikim, the two crossings currently in use. The Gaza-side truck count does not correspond 1:1 to trucks on the Israeli side, as Gaza-side vehicles are typically smaller.
Non-UN (Commercial/Private Sector) Aid
[Data gap: no Gaza Chamber of Commerce or COGAT commercial-truck figure specific to 21–28 August was located as of 28 August 2026. The most recent published Chamber of Commerce figure, shared via the Cash Working Group, is 878 truckloads collected by the private sector for the week of 3–9 August, of which 264 (30%) reportedly carried non-essential rather than critical items. This should not be read as this week’s total — it is included here only as the latest available reference point pending a more current figure.]
Sources: OCHA oPt Humanitarian Situation Report, 14 August 2026 (ochaopt.org); UN2720 Mechanism Dashboard, UNOPS.
Key Developments: 21-28 August
22 August: British and French ex-diplomats publish open letter demanding sanctions on Israel over Palestine
23 August: Israel’s strikes on Gaza continue, hitting a mosque, a water plant and tents housing displaced people, killing at least seven people.
23 August: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement threatening military escalation and forced displacement in Gaza over kites, balloons, and drones.
26 August: The Board of Peace’s High Representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, stated to the UN Security Council that failure of the ceasefire process could reach a ‘point of no return’
Read the Board of Peace’s Gaza Peace Plan
Gaza Governance
Transitional Administration:
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) is designated as the Palestinian civilian administration for Gaza under the Gaza peace framework.
Head: Ali Shaath, Chief Commissioner of the NCAG.
International Oversight:
The transition is overseen by the Board of Peace, with Nickolay Mladenov serving as High Representative for Gaza.
Gaza Executive Board, Board of Peace
Hamas:
In July, Hamas announced it will transfer civilian and security governing authority to the NCAG. The transfer remains in progress, with the implementation of Hamas’ disarmament and the full establishment of NCAG authority still unresolved.
Head: Khalil al-Hayya of Hamas’s Political Bureau, a key Hamas negotiator in the Gaza ceasefire talks.
Head of Hama’s Shura Council : Muhammad Ismail Darwish (Abu Omar Hassan)
Palestinian Authority (PA):
The PA is the internationally recognised Palestinian governing authority, with a stated objective of eventually assuming governance responsibilities in Gaza.
Upcoming Elections
Israel – Knesset Election
Next Scheduled Election: 27 October 2026
Palestine – Legislative Election
Next Scheduled Election: 28 November 2026 (tentative date, cancellation by the President of Palestine anticipated)
From the NCF
NCF’s Latest Blog: A Place for Us All?
Research Officer Manisha Shivastava examines the emergence of a new Jewish-Arab political party in Israel called Makom Lekulanu ahead of Israel’s October 2026 election.
NCF UN Oral Statement – Now Gaza needs Healing
Research Officer Odessa Grove addresses the United Nations Human Rights Council on the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system.