New york: A UN official on Wednesday stated that Israeli occupation activities in the occupied West Bank hold "no legal value" and represent a "flagrant violation" of international law. Ramiz Alakbarov, deputy special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, emphasized this position during a speech to the UN Security Council, highlighting the contentious nature of these settlements.
According to Anadolu Agency, Israeli authorities have recently opened bidding for over 1,200 housing units in the E1 area of occupied East Jerusalem. Alakbarov warned that implementing this plan would "effectively sever the northern and southern parts of the West Bank," severely undermining the prospects for a viable Palestinian state. He painted a grim picture of the situation in the occupied territory, citing large-scale attacks by Israeli occupiers with "virtually no accountability," and alleged that security forces frequently fail to protect Palestinians, sometimes even "facilitating or participating" in these incidents.
Addressing the Gaza Strip, Alakbarov described the ongoing humanitarian crisis as "unacceptable" despite a 10-month-old ceasefire. He reported that Israeli airstrikes have intensified, creating intolerable conditions for the people in the enclave. With around two-thirds of the area remaining inaccessible, he called for the removal of "key bottlenecks" as the 2026 appeal remains only 40% funded.
Alakbarov further warned that Gaza's population faces a catastrophic winter without adequate shelter, as stocks of essential items are depleted. "Gaza should not face another winter in cold tents," he urged, pressing for the immediate restoration of humanitarian items. Nickolay Mladenov, high representative for the Board of Peace, echoed these concerns, criticizing Israel's current policy on shelter as "not acceptable" and urging for improved access to shelter for the sake of dignity, health, and safety.
Athena Rayburn, executive director of the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA), delivered a scathing critique of the current oversight mechanism. She claimed that the Board of Peace is failing, arguing that it has instead functioned to "further entrench Israel's unlawful presence." Under this oversight, Rayburn alleged, Israeli authorities have deregistered over 30 international organizations to silence critical voices.
Rayburn accused Israel of artificially creating "scarcity" in the Gaza Strip by imposing arbitrary restrictions on basic goods, leading to skyrocketing costs, such as engine oil prices rising to 45 times their normal level, bringing the humanitarian response to a "breaking point." Essential medical items, including wheelchairs, crutches, and prosthetic limbs, are reportedly being rejected as "dual-use" materials. She called on the Council to undertake an urgent mission to Gaza to witness the situation firsthand and urged them not to rely solely on reports but to exercise their powers of inquiry.