UNSC holds open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question

The United Nations Security Council Tuesday held an open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

Chaired by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the open debate featured open discussions on the latest developments on the Palestinian arena, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the impact of Israeli colonial policies on Palestinians in the West Bank, including Jerusalem.

It came as Israel is still proceeding with its genocidal offensive on the war-torn Strip in complete disregard of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered Israel in a legally binding decision to halt its military offensive in Rafah, which may violate its obligations under the Genocide Convention.

Israel has been waging a devastating war on Gaza since October 7, 2023, killing at least 43,061 Palestinians and injuring over 101,223 others, at a time when at least 10,000 people are unaccounted for, presumed dead under the
rubble of their homes throughout the Strip.

Speaking before the UNSC, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland said that the Middle East stands at its’ most dangerous juncture in decades,’ following his recent visit to Gaza, where the level of destruction ‘defies imagination’.

He told ambassadors a political resolution to the ‘Israel-Palestine conflict’ must be put forward alongside ending the irreversible and unilateral steps on the ground that are undermining the two-state solution.

“We urgently need a set of understandings to establish a political and security framework in Gaza in line with the principles I have outlined repeatedly in this Council.”

This must include a Palestinian Government that can re-unify Gaza and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem – politically, economically and administratively – with no reductions in its territory or displacement of Palestinians from the Strip.

He spoke of yesterday’s deadly strike in Beit Lahiya, that left at least 9
0 Palestinians missing or killed, including 25 children.

‘We need a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza now,’ he urged, warning without immediate action, humanitarian assistance cannot be scaled up to meet the catastrophic needs of nearly 2 million displaced people.

He said he was ‘very concerned that facts on the ground are being established” that are undermining core principles of the peace process, potentially for years to come. This includes the attempt by Israel to dismantle UNRWA, he added.

Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA