UNSC Holds High-Level Open Debate on Middle East and Palestinian Question

New york: The UN Security Council held a high-level open debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, on Wednesday. The session was initiated by Somalia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Deputy Special Coordinator for the United Nations Middle East Peace Process, Ramez Al-Akbarov, emphasized the significance of the current period as 'a genuine opportunity' to establish a more stable and secure future for both Palestinians and Israelis. He highlighted the importance of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan, stressing the need for collective commitment to its implementation. Al-Akbarov also underscored the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian population in Gaza, sharing an anecdote of a young girl struggling to maintain her shelter. In his address, Al-Akbarov described the 'spiralling dynamics' in the occupied West Bank, noting daily entrenched negative trends due to Israeli military operatio ns, settlement expansions, and various forms of violence and detentions. He also brought attention to the increasing pressure on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN, expressed appreciation for the ceasefire agreement reached last year and acknowledged the role of the United States in facilitating it. Despite the ceasefire's implementation, Mansour lamented the loss of at least 500 Palestinian lives since its inception. He questioned the fate of Palestinian families affected by violence and those still searching for missing loved ones, advocating for healing, recovery, and justice for all Palestinians. French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont remarked on the persistent humanitarian crisis in Gaza despite the ceasefire, calling for Israel to ease restrictions on humanitarian access. He emphasized the necessity for the UN and aid organizations to operate freely in Gaza, in accordance with international hu manitarian law. Bonnafont also voiced concerns about pressures on UNRWA and limitations faced by aid groups.