New york: The UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People held a special meeting Tuesday in New York to observe the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people. The event marked a significant moment of reflection on the longstanding challenges and unresolved issues faced by the Palestinian territories since the 1947 UN resolution that aimed to establish two states living peacefully side by side. Committee chair Coly Seck expressed concerns over the ongoing lack of "peace nor security" for Palestinians, 78 years after the resolution.
According to Anadolu Agency, Seck emphasized the "historic injustice" Palestinians continue to endure and highlighted the UN's responsibility in pursuing a fair resolution to the Palestinian question. He called on the international community to take firm steps toward recognizing the state of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital. General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock underscored that while Israel is recognized internationally, the absence of Palestinian statehood remains a critical issue.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, through a message delivered by Chef de Cabinet Earle Courtenay Rattray, addressed the "unspeakable hardship" Palestinians face in the occupied West Bank, including rising settler violence. He commended the mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, Trkiye, and the US in achieving a recent ceasefire. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, through a message conveyed by Palestine's permanent UN representative Riyad Mansour, reiterated the Gaza Strip's integral status as part of Palestine and expressed gratitude to countries like France, the UK, and Australia for their recent recognition of Palestine.
The League of Arab States Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit highlighted the growing international coalition supporting the two-state solution amid Israel's increasing isolation. The African Union welcomed the ceasefire as a step toward alleviating civilian suffering but stressed the need for a "credible and irreversible political process" to ensure lasting peace. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation called for a donors conference in Cairo to support Gaza's recovery and reconstruction.
The Movement of Non-Aligned Countries emphasized the protection of Palestinian people until Israel's "unlawful occupation" ends. The Chair of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices reported ongoing conditions undermining fundamental rights, citing the "catastrophic" situation in Gaza and unprecedented settler violence in the West Bank. Journalist Shrouq al-Aila remarked that despite the ceasefire, Palestinians face ongoing challenges in rebuilding their lives amid destruction.
Security Council President Michael Imran Kanu was unable to deliver a statement due to a lack of consensus within the group, marking a first during the annual special meeting, as noted by Seck. Since October 2023, the Israeli army has resulted in nearly 70,000 casualties in Gaza, mostly among women and children, and left over 170,900 injured. The recent ceasefire, effective from October 10, envisions the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the reconstruction of Gaza, excluding Hamas from governance. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli attacks have persisted, causing further casualties and injuries among Palestinians.