The Security Council Discusses the Situation in the Middle East Including the Palestinian Issue

SadaNews - The United Nations Security Council held its monthly session today, Wednesday, during which it discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue.

The session was opened by the permanent representative of Somalia to the United Nations, the President of the Security Council for this month, Abukar Zaher Osman.

Akburov: There is a Potential Turning Point in Gaza for a Better Future

United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Ramiz Akburov, stated that there is a potential turning point in Gaza for a better future, emphasizing that at the same time, the West Bank is suffering from ongoing deterioration.

He added that the announcement of the second phase of the comprehensive plan with twenty points proposed by US President Donald Trump represents a critical step in consolidating the ceasefire in Gaza, alongside the establishment of a Peace Council, a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, and an Office of the High Representative for Gaza.

He explained the importance of the meeting he held in Cairo to discuss the better support that the United Nations can provide for essential public services, facilitating humanitarian aid, and laying the foundations for the reconstruction of Gaza, noting that the residents of the sector need humanitarian assistance.

He affirmed that the proposed task is significant and requires full coordination among all parties, taking into account existing systems and capacities, stating, "The implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire plan in Gaza is crucial, and it will require our collective and firm commitment."

Akburov addressed the situation in the West Bank amid the "widespread" Israeli aggression, the expansion of settlements, settler violence, demolitions, and mass arrests, pointing to the “sharp escalation” in the pressure campaign against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in an attempt to end its operations in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Mansour: Over 500 Citizens Have Been Martyred Since the Ceasefire

The Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, Minister Riyad Mansour, stated that since the ceasefire in Gaza under the plan of US President Donald Trump, at least 500 Palestinians have been martyred, and destruction has continued.

He affirmed Palestinian support for the peace plan "because it provided an immediate pathway to end the killing, suffering, famine, and unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe that our Palestinian people in Gaza are experiencing."

He stressed the importance of fully implementing the commitments of the first phase of the plan, including an immediate cessation of killing and providing unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza.

He welcomed the completion of the process of releasing all Israeli hostages, questioning, "What about the countless Palestinian families whose loved ones have been killed, and the thousands of bodies still buried under the rubble, which have not yet been located, identified, or properly buried?"

He emphasized that the continued success of the ceasefire requires Israel to stop trying to impose its vision for Gaza's future and to fully withdraw from the sector.

He warned of the "dangerous Israeli escalation against Palestinian cities, villages, and refugee camps in the West Bank," pointing out that despite everything, "we still see a chance for peace."

Mansour noted that "there should be no administrative or legal, or rather illegal actions, that entrench division and occupation instead of putting an end to them," reaffirming a readiness to work with the United States and regional and international partners to ensure respect for the ceasefire agreement in accordance with international law.

French Representative: Obstacles to Humanitarian Aid Access to Gaza Must Be Removed

The Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, Jérôme Bonaventure, called on Israel to remove all obstacles to humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip.

He added that "four barriers" must be removed, including canceling the registration of dozens of international NGOs, increasing pressure on UNRWA, excessive restrictions on goods, and the continued closure of some crossings, emphasizing that the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza is a key element in the Palestinians' ownership of this new stage.

He warned that the situation in the West Bank continues to deteriorate, affirming France's condemnation of the settlers' attack on January 17 in eastern Ramallah, during which citizens and foreign activists, including a French citizen, were assaulted.