International diplomats have condemned Israel’s moves to deepen control over the occupied West Bank and restrict humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip during a special United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Israel-Palestine.
Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, told the UNSC on Wednesday that intensified diplomatic efforts are underway to consolidate the ceasefire, alleviate Palestinian suffering, and advance the implementation of a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict.
“On the other hand, Israel’s continued ceasefire violations, annexation attempts and illegal actions across the occupied Palestinian territories continue to undermine these efforts and threaten the prospect for a just and lasting peace,” Dar said. He described recent Israeli steps to expand control over large parts of the West Bank as “gravely disturbing.”
The session at UN headquarters in New York was rescheduled from Thursday to avoid a timing clash with a planned meeting of Donald Trump’s so-called Board of Peace in Washington, DC, highlighting potential conflicting agendas between the UN and the US-led initiative.
Riyad Mansour, Palestine’s ambassador to the UN, called for the international community to halt Israel’s annexation efforts, whether in Washington or New York. Earlier this week, Mansour joined dozens of diplomats in presenting a statement on behalf of 80 countries opposing Israel’s latest actions in the West Bank.
On February 8, Israel’s security cabinet approved measures that facilitate Israeli acquisition of Palestinian land, expand military control in the West Bank, and make it harder for a Palestinian state to be established. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen described the moves as creating “de facto sovereignty,” while far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich pledged to encourage Palestinian “emigration” from the area.
The escalation comes amid intensified attacks by Israeli troops and settlers on Palestinians. On Wednesday, four Palestinians were wounded, two by live ammunition, during a settler attack in the village of Mukhmas, near occupied East Jerusalem.
The UN and international community continue to call for restraint, reversal of annexation measures, and protection of civilian populations in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
