Gaza: The United Nations warned on Tuesday that a political process cannot succeed while Gaza remains devastated and violence escalates in the West Bank.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov briefed the UN Security Council on the escalating situation in the occupied West Bank. Alakbarov emphasized that Gaza's reconstruction is unsustainable without a political process, and such a process cannot thrive under current conditions, which include a devastated Gaza, escalating violence in the West Bank, divided Palestinian institutions, and deteriorating security.
Alakbarov highlighted the rapid deterioration of conditions in the West Bank, compounding the alarming state across the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He warned of a wider escalation unless immediate steps are taken to reverse the current course. He stressed the necessity for implementing the 'Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict' and UNSC Resolution 2803 (2025).
During a recent visit to the Gaza Strip, Alakbarov witnessed the ongoing hardships faced by Palestinians due to displacement, overcrowding, destruction, and casualties from Israeli military operations. Despite these challenges, he observed Palestinians making efforts to rebuild their lives. He emphasized that human dignity should not be conditional and that community resilience cannot replace the required supply of materials or the political will needed for Gaza's genuine recovery.
Alakbarov expressed concerns over the increase in Israeli airstrikes and the expansion of Israeli military control, which has confined Gaza's population to a third of its territory. He noted that humanitarian assistance alone is insufficient for sustainable recovery and stressed the need for restoring livelihoods, rehabilitating infrastructure, and supporting Palestinian institutions to lead recovery efforts.
Discussing the West Bank, Alakbarov warned that building a viable future for Gaza is impossible if the Palestinian Authority (PA) is destabilized or if the current dangerous dynamics persist. He cited continued attacks by Israeli colonist militias against Palestinian communities and infrastructure, as well as ongoing Israeli military operations, demolitions, and settlement expansions.
Alakbarov expressed concern over unauthorized entries by Israeli forces and officials into a UNRWA training center in East Jerusalem during class sessions. He also highlighted the critical financial situation of the Palestinian Authority, exacerbated by Israel withholding Palestinian clearance revenues, which has hampered the PA's ability to provide essential services.
He called for urgent action to support the Palestinian Authority, halt the deterioration in the West Bank, and create conditions necessary for the upcoming Palestinian Legislative Council elections on November 28. Alakbarov stressed the importance of enabling the PA to return to governing the Gaza Strip.