UN Security Council warns of escalating Gaza tensions in Middle East talks

The United Nations Security Council held an expanded meeting in New York on Wednesday to discuss developments in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the Palestinian issue. The session included around 70 speakers representing Arab countries, the Arab League, the European Union, and Council members.

During the meeting, Ramez Alakbarov, the acting UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, warned that the risk of renewed war in Gaza is higher than ever, urging all possible efforts to prevent further escalation.

UN warns of worsening humanitarian situation

Alakbarov noted that many Gaza residents have seen little improvement in their lives a year after the ceasefire, warning of persistent frustration. He also pointed out that the West Bank has reached a boiling point amid ongoing threats to the safety and livelihoods of Palestinians. He added that the forced fragmentation of communities threatens the geographic basis for a future sovereign Palestinian state.

Calls for international action and support for two-state solution

Alakbarov stressed that the ceasefire in Gaza should serve as the foundation for genuine recovery and a lasting political settlement, emphasizing the need to end the occupation across the occupied Palestinian territories. He also called for international support for a two-state solution to be translated into coordinated and decisive action on the ground.

In the same context, the international community was urged to act to ensure a future of security and dignity for both Palestinians and Israelis, and to return to a genuine peace process. Alakbarov reaffirmed the goal of establishing two states living side by side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as their shared capital.