© UNRWA The destruction in the Gaza Strip remains widespread, and living conditions remain extremely difficult. UN warns of risk of major escalation in West Bank Peace and security
The situation in the West Bank is rapidly deteriorating, the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Ramiz Alakbarov, warned about this when speaking at a meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday. According to him, recent days have been marked by a sharp increase in violence, which poses the threat of wider regional escalation.
Alakbarov stressed that implementation of the Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza and Resolution 2803 remains a key condition for stabilization. “The plan must be implemented in full, including the disarmament of Hamas and all armed groups, the withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza and the deployment of the international stabilization force,” he said.
Humanitarian situation in Gaza: there are improvements, but they are minimal
Alakbarov said that during a recent trip to Gaza he saw some signs of progress – the clearing of garbage from the areas and the supply of sanitary equipment. However, he stressed that this is only a small part of what is needed for recovery. According to him, the destruction in the sector remains widespread, living conditions are dire, and humanitarian assistance is the only source of survival for most families. “Human dignity should not be an arbitrary concept. The space for reconstruction is still effectively closed,” he noted, adding that the approaching winter makes the situation even more critical. The Deputy Special Coordinator stressed that the expansion of Israeli military control zones and regular airstrikes continue to increase pressure on the Gazan population, who are now forced to live in about a third of the Strip.
Violence in the West Bank
The past week has seen numerous violent incidents in the West Bank, including attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages and by Palestinians on Israelis. As a result, both Palestinians, including one child, and Israelis were killed. Alakbarov called on Israel to take urgent action to prevent settler violence and ensure the protection of Palestinian communities. He recalled: “All settlements are illegal under international law.”
Financial crisis of the Palestinian Authority
The Palestinian Authority, according to Alakbarov, is on the verge of financial collapse due to Israel’s withholding of tax revenues. This results in the inability to provide key government services, including education and health care, as well as pay salaries to civil servants. The Deputy Special Coordinator noted that maintaining correspondent banking ties is critical to preventing an economic collapse, and called on the parties for further interaction.
Preparations for elections and the political process
Alakbarov welcomed the decision of President Mahmoud Abbas to set the date of parliamentary elections for November 28. He stressed that an inclusive and transparent electoral process would be an important step towards strengthening Palestinian governance and restoring public confidence. The UN, he said, is ready to support the holding of elections in cooperation with the Central Election Commission. affecting the supply of goods, security and political dynamics. He stressed that the mobilization of international efforts demonstrated at recent meetings in Brussels and Rome must be continued and strengthened.
“The political process is impossible without the restoration of Gaza.”
Alakbarov concluded his speech by calling on the Security Council to ensure the implementation of past resolutions and to support efforts to stabilize the region. He emphasized the relationship between the political process and Gaza’s reconstruction: “The political process cannot succeed while Gaza remains destroyed, violence in the West Bank increases, Palestinian institutions are divided, and the security situation rapidly deteriorates.” The UN, Alakbarov said, will continue to engage with all parties and use its capabilities on the ground to advance long-term solutions.