UN Security Council Condemns Israel's Plans to Expand Control Over West Bank
The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday (18 February) stressed the need for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and condemned Israel’s efforts to expand control over the West Bank, which it deemed an obstacle to the two-state solution. The statement came a day before President Donald Trump chaired the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace to discuss the future of Palestinian territories.
The high-level UN meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday (19 February), was brought forward after Trump announced the Board of Peace gathering on the same day. The change reflected a potential clash of agendas between the UN’s most powerful body and Trump’s new initiative, whose ambition to mediate global conflicts has raised concerns among several nations about competing with the Security Council.
Pakistan, the only Security Council member to receive a Board of Peace invitation, condemned Israeli settlement projects in the West Bank as “unlawful and in violation of international law.” Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said, “Israel’s illegal decision to expand control in the West Bank is deeply alarming.”
Foreign ministers from Britain, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Indonesia attended the Security Council’s monthly meeting on the Middle East, following requests from several Arab and Islamic nations for Gaza and the West Bank to be discussed before they departed for Washington.
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour affirmed, “Annexation constitutes a violation of the most fundamental provisions of the UN Charter and the rules of international law. It also threatens ongoing peace efforts.”
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that the world’s attention would be focused on the Board of Peace meeting, accusing the Security Council of being “infected with an anti-Israel obsession,” whilst asserting Israel’s right to “biblical land” was stronger than that of any other nation.
Grand ambitions of the Board of Peace
The Trump-led Board of Peace was originally conceived as a small group of world leaders overseeing a 20-point peace plan for Gaza. However, Trump expanded the council’s vision as a mediator of global conflicts — a shift that has sparked scepticism among longstanding US allies.
Although more than 20 nations accepted invitations, close US partners such as France and Germany have not joined and continue to support the UN, which is currently facing major reforms and budget cuts.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted the Security Council’s opportunity to help build “a better future” for Israel and Palestine, despite the two-year war between Israel and Hamas having created “a cycle of violence and suffering.” Cooper emphasised, “Gaza must not be trapped in a grey zone between peace and war.”
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz addressed nations that had not yet joined the Board of Peace, stating, “This council is not merely about talk, but about action.”
The West Bank and the threat of annexation
The Security Council meeting was held a day after nearly all its members, with the exception of the United States, endorsed a statement by Ambassador Mansour representing more than 80 nations and several organisations, condemning Israel’s actions in the West Bank and demanding their immediate reversal.
In recent weeks, Israel launched a controversial land regulation process in the West Bank, which according to Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, asserts “de facto sovereignty” and impedes the formation of a Palestinian state. The move has drawn condemnation from Palestine, Arab nations, and human rights organisations.
A critical moment for the Middle East
The UN meeting also addressed the ceasefire that took effect on 10 October. Representatives of Israeli and Palestinian civil society attended for the first time since the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023.
Hiba Qasas, founding executive of the Principles for Peace Foundation, and Nadav Tamir, a former Israeli diplomat, agreed that the two-state solution is the only path to ending the conflict. “Israel cannot remain a democratic homeland for Jews if Palestine does not have a homeland of its own. Our futures are interdependent,” said Tamir.
UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo stressed, “This is a pivotal moment in the Middle East that opens new possibilities, but its sustainability depends on decisions made in the coming weeks.” DiCarlo also condemned Israel’s actions in the West Bank as “gradual de facto annexation.”
Several ceasefire provisions have been implemented, including Hamas releasing all hostages and increased humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. However, major challenges remain: the deployment of international security forces, the disarmament of Hamas, and the reconstruction of Gaza.
Trump said the Board of Peace was committed to channelling US$5 billion for Gaza’s reconstruction and preparing thousands of security personnel. Indonesia announced that up to 8,000 TNI troops would be ready for deployment by the end of June for humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in Gaza.