Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East, officials warned that the current events would leave long-lasting impacts on the region. 

“These events will reverberate for generations and shape the region in ways we cannot yet fully comprehend,” they stated, highlighting the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, particularly in the northern areas, where near-total displacement of civilians and widespread destruction have occurred. The onset of winter has only compounded the crisis, with officials citing a “disturbing disregard for international humanitarian law.” 

UN representatives also highlighted deteriorating conditions in the occupied West Bank, where ongoing Israeli military operations, violence, and accelerated settlement expansions have intensified. They noted that some Israeli ministers have openly called for the formal annexation of the West Bank and the re-establishment of colonies in Gaza, further exacerbating tensions. 

“The steps being taken on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank are taking us further away from the peace process and from an eventual viable Palestinian state,” warned the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. 

Ambassador Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN, called on the Security Council to demand an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. He emphasized that “violence is a dead end,” advocating for a just political solution based on coexistence and mutual acceptance. 

“Our region does not need more killing, but a just political solution. The solution is not in the disappearance of one people, but in living and allowing others to live,” Mansour stated. 

He urged global action to protect civilians, recognize the State of Palestine, and halt Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Mansour warned against potential Israeli efforts to rebuild settlements in Gaza and called for accountability for Israeli officials involved in the expansion of settlements. 

UN officials and Ambassador Mansour urged all states to uphold international law, protect civilians, and support efforts toward a viable two-state solution. The Security Council’s credibility, they argued, hinges on its ability to act decisively to end the violence and advance peace in the region. (ILKHA)