The United Nations before the Security Council: Opportunities and risks in Gaza and the worsening situation in the West Bank

This came before the regular meeting held by the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue. 69 delegates, including fifteen members of the Security Council, are scheduled to speak during the meeting.

You can follow the live broadcast of the meeting on the video to the left, with simultaneous translation into Arabic.

Among the most important points of the briefing by UN official Ramiz Alakbarov:

🔹A potential turning point for Gaza and a real opportunity for a better future, in light of a state of uncertainty.

🔹The continued deterioration in the occupied West Bank and the policies of the Israeli government have facilitated a number of destructive trends.

🔹A meeting in Cairo with the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza to discuss the best ways for the United Nations to support the committee’s efforts.

🔹We welcome the return of the remains of the last hostages from Gaza to Israel.

🔹Optimism with the announcement of the opening of the Rafah crossing to pedestrians on both sides.

🔹Disarmament in the Gaza Strip is essential.

🔹Intensifying pressure campaign on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

Ramiz Alakbarov described the announcement of the start of the second phase of President Trump’s 20-point comprehensive plan as a “decisive step” in consolidating the ceasefire in Gaza, along with the establishment of subsidiary bodies of the Peace Council, including the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and the Office of the High Representative for Gaza.

He stated that he had just returned from Cairo, where he met with the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza with the aim of discussing how the United Nations could best support the committee’s efforts in providing vital public services, facilitating humanitarian aid, and laying the foundations for reconstruction in Gaza, in line with Security Council Resolution 2803.

He stressed the United Nations’ full readiness to support the committee and the Palestinians in Gaza as they begin the hard work of rebuilding.

He stressed the need for the next phase of the comprehensive plan to be implemented in good faith. He expressed optimism regarding Israel’s announcement on January 25 of the opening of the Rafah crossing for pedestrian movement in both directions, stressing that “Disarmament in the Gaza Strip is a basic condition, and there is an urgent need for security arrangements to facilitate the work of the National Committee throughout the Strip.”

The people of Gaza are ready for a better future

The UN official touched on his recent visit to Gaza, stressing that the visit confirmed one fact – “that the people of Gaza are ready and eager to lead the way towards a better and more stable future.”

He said that he witnessed inspiring resilience and hope in the midst of great suffering and pain, and added: “Young people take their exams – and excel – in the most difficult circumstances. Farmers are unable to import seeds, but they still find ways to grow in greenhouses that have been repaired with rudimentary materials. Small business owners are coming up with smart solutions in the face of scarcity of materials and a devastated market.”

However, the UN Coordinator stressed that almost all Gaza residents are still in need of humanitarian assistance. Heavy rains and low temperatures have exacerbated the suffering of about 1.5 million displaced Palestinians in Gaza.

Alakbarov said that the Israeli army continues to launch military operations, despite the ceasefire, as air strikes, shelling and shooting continue throughout the Strip. Armed clashes with Palestinian militants also continued.

The situation in the West Bank

Ramiz Alakbarov addressed the worsening developments in the occupied West Bank. He said that the reporting period witnessed continued violence, with large-scale Israeli military operations, settlement expansion, settler violence, demolitions, and mass arrests.

The UN official added that the Israeli government’s policies facilitated a number of destructive trends, including:

🔹Rapid settlement expansion and the associated infrastructure,

🔹Establishing and legitimizing settlement outposts,

🔹Widespread demolition and displacement operations,

🔹Declaration of “State Lands”,

🔹Increasing restrictions on movement and access,

🔹And expanding the borders of municipalities.

He added that persistent and extreme settler violence, often accompanied or supported by Israeli security forces, continues to inflame tensions, forcefully displace Palestinians and exacerbate instability.

He said that the consequences of this are dire, namely the deepening of the occupation, the increasing fragmentation of the Palestinian space, and the strengthening of the geographical contiguity of the settlements, which undermines the chances of peace and the establishment of a two-state solution.

If these issues are not addressed urgently, they may also jeopardize progress in implementing the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, as the UN official said.

The campaign against UNRWA escalates

Ramiz Alakbarov reported that the pressure campaign against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has escalated sharply in recent weeks. “In an attempt to end its operations in the occupied Palestinian territory.”

On December 29, the Israeli Knesset passed legislation directing the Israeli authorities to seize UNRWA headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah and Kafr Aqab, and requiring public utility companies and financial service providers to cut off their services to UNRWA or any of its facilities.

On 12 January, Israeli forces raided an UNRWA health center in occupied East Jerusalem and ordered its closure. A week later, Israeli forces stormed the UNRWA headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem with bulldozers and demolished its buildings. “Officials also issued hateful calls to exterminate UNRWA employees.

The UN official warned that these actions constitute blatant violations of international law and the privileges and immunities of the United Nations. He called on the Israeli government to adhere to the advisory opinion issued by International Court of Justice In October 2025, which stipulates that Israel is obligated under international law to facilitate UNRWA operations, not obstruct or prevent them.

Palestine

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, warned that since the ceasefire in Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s plan, at least 500 Palestinians have been killed, and the destruction has continued.

He stressed Palestinian support for the peace plan “Because it provided an immediate path to ending the killing, suffering, famine and unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe to which the Palestinian people in Gaza are exposed.”.

He stressed that “Fully implementing the commitments of the first phase of the plan, including an immediate halt to the killing and providing unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza, is essential.”.

He welcomed the completion of the release of all Israeli hostages. But he wondered about “The countless Palestinian families whose loved ones were killed, and thousands of bodies still buried under the rubble, have yet to be found or identified, and have not been given a proper burial.”“.

He stressed that the continuation of the ceasefire and its success requires that Israel stop trying to impose its vision for the future of Gaza and withdraw completely from the Strip.

He warned against “The dangerous Israeli escalation against Palestinian cities, villages and refugee camps in the West Bank”.

He pointed out that despite everything, “We still see a chance for peace.”. He added that “There should be no administrative or legal, or rather illegal, measures that entrench division and occupation, rather than put an end to them.”.

He stressed their readiness to work with the United States and regional and international partners to ensure respect for the ceasefire agreement in line with international law.

Israel

Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, said that Israel has been clear since the first days of the war in Gaza that it has two goals: returning all hostages and disarming Hamas. He added that the first goal was achieved with the return of Ran Gvili, the last hostage in Gaza.

Danon said that Israel is moving forward with the same determination to achieve the second goal, and added that Hamas must choose: Accepting its complete disarmament enables progress, and refusal places full responsibility on it for the consequences.

He stressed the need for clarity on what disarmament means, and said “There will be no real disarmament until Hamas’s military infrastructure, including weapons, command centers and terror tunnels, is dismantled.”

He stressed that it is not possible to rebuild economically in Gaza while Hamas continues to arm itself, or for there to be a future for civilians while “a terrorist army controls Gaza.” He described Hamas as a genocidal terrorist organization.

He uploaded a copy of a file that he said Hamas had issued last year. He added: “In this document, Hamas clearly says that it refuses to disarm, refuses to give up power, denies the atrocities of October 7, and justifies and glorifies the mass killings it committed.. He said that Hamas is not ready for peace, but rather a “terrorist army preparing for its next war.”

USA

Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, said: “For the first time since 2014, that is, in more than a decade, Hamas and its affiliated terrorist factions are no longer holding any hostages in Gaza.”.

He pointed to President Trump’s celebration of the formation of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, and his announcement of the Peace Council, and with it the transition to the second phase of the 20-item peace plan.

Waltz said: “The second phase will work to achieve complete disarmament and reconstruction of Gaza, in line with the US President’s plan and Security Council Resolution 2803.”.

He added: “The Peace Council will help achieve a new Gaza, breaking this vicious cycle of violence that has persisted for decades. We realize that this unconventional change may worry some, but with this innovative approach, we are moving beyond decades of lost time, money and opportunities for peace.”.

He stressed that only the elimination of extremism, weapons, and military status will bring prosperity and stability to Gaza, adding that: “Hamas should have no role in governing Gaza, directly or indirectly.”.

He spoke about the “International Stabilization Force in Gaza”, which is scheduled to begin establishing control and stability until Israeli forces can withdraw from Gaza, he said.

More later……