Palestine urges UNSC to move beyond ‘business as usual’ on occupied West Bank

The US reiterated Washington’s opposition to the annexation of the occupied West Bank. The American envoy noted that Trump’s 20-point plan requires the Palestinian Authority (PA) to verifiably complete comprehensive reforms.

Washington also highlighted a significant milestone reached in late July, when the Palestinian resistance group Hamas committed to a formal plan for its disarmament, urging all parties to build on the momentum towards “full and irreversible disarmament”.

International alarm over fragmentation

Other member states voiced concern about the systematic fragmentation of Palestinian territory. Somalia pointed out that more than 33,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced, the highest number since 1967. It also warned that illegal settlers are increasingly using “archaeology and heritage claims” to justify the expansion of the occupation.

The United Kingdom expressed opposition to the reintroduction of the “E1” settlement project, which aims to bisect the occupied West Bank. Pakistan added that the “Crimson Thread” project is part of a broader effort to shatter Palestinian territorial contiguity.

France welcomed the PA’s upcoming legislative and presidential elections, while Russia argued that the American peace plan has “essentially stalled”. It noted a tragic toll, stating that, on average, one child has been killed in Gaza per day by Israeli forces over the last 300 days.

Liberia issued a stark warning that the council is presiding over the “slow-motion disappearance” of the two-state solution rather than enforcing it.