The United Nations Security Council convened on Monday (25 Nov) to address the deepening conflict in Israel and Palestine, where representatives highlighted escalating violence, severe humanitarian crises, and controversial political developments.
The session underscored sharp divisions, with Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour delivering an impassioned critique of Israeli actions, accusing the state of operating with “lawlessness” and rejecting accountability.
The meeting took place against a grim backdrop. The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that at least 24 Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours in Israeli attacks, bringing the total death toll in the enclave to 44,235 since last year.
The ongoing assaults have also left 104,638 others injured, with many still trapped under rubble as rescue teams struggle to reach affected areas.
“Israeli forces killed 24 people and injured 71 others in two massacres of families in the last 24 hours,” the ministry stated, highlighting the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In his address, Mansour condemned Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, asserting that its actions amounted to genocide and calling for an immediate ceasefire. “Surrender is not an option,” he declared, reiterating Palestine’s commitment to self-determination and justice.
He accused Israel of dismissing international laws and norms, emphasizing the need for accountability, particularly in light of recent arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli leaders.
Mansour’s plea resonated with widespread global demands for a cessation of hostilities. “Cease fire. Cease fire now,” he implored.
Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon fired back, questioning the absence of Palestinian condemnation of Hamas, which he labeled as the root cause of the conflict.
“If you want to move forward, you have to say no to Hamas and yes to cooperation,” Danon said, while defending Israeli military operations as measures of self-defense.
He dismissed the ICC’s actions as politically motivated and damaging to the international legal system, describing the court’s decision as “an insult to the victims of real war crimes.”
Danon also announced progress in ceasefire negotiations with Lebanon, stressing conditions such as Hizbullah’s withdrawal north of the Litani River. “It will have stages,” Danon stated, “and is not going to happen overnight.”
The meeting also featured reports of grave humanitarian concerns. Muhannad Hadi, Deputy Special Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, detailed extensive violence, including looting of humanitarian aid in Gaza and increased settler violence in the West Bank.
He warned of worsening conditions in the region, citing Israeli demolitions and settlement expansions as further exacerbating tensions.
Other representatives expressed their dismay at the unfolding crisis. Russian Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy called for an immediate ceasefire, sharply criticizing the U.S. veto of a previous resolution as leaving it “in total international isolation.”
U.S. Representative Robert A. Wood condemned the surge in settler violence against Palestinians, emphasizing the disruption of daily life and livelihoods, such as the harvesting of olive crops.
As the Security Council session progressed, both sides clashed repeatedly, reflecting a familiar deadlock. Mansour accused Israel of perpetuating “extremism” and “fanaticism,” while Danon characterized Palestinian rhetoric as deflecting responsibility from Hamas’s actions. The impasse underscored the significant challenges to forging a diplomatic resolution amid rising tensions.
Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland, in his final briefing, emphasized the complexity of the conflict and the necessity of impartiality in any mediation effort.
“This is a very difficult job to entertain in a situation where anyone serious from the UN will have to deal in an impartial way, with both sides,” he remarked.
The session closed without consensus, leaving the future of the region uncertain and underscoring the international community’s struggle to address one of the world’s most enduring conflicts.
