UNSC Postpones Gaza Meeting Amid US Peace Initiative Concerns

The United Nations Security Council has rescheduled a meeting on Israel-Palestine to take place on Wednesday afternoon, ahead of a separate event in Washington. The UN Security Council session will focus on the ongoing “ceasefire” in Gaza and new Israeli efforts to deepen its control and settler presence in the occupied West Bank.

The meeting is attended by foreign ministers from several countries, including the United Kingdom, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Indonesia. Palestine’s Ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, has stated that the international community expects to see an end to Israel’s actions against annexation, whether in Washington or New York.

On February 8, Israel’s security cabinet approved measures making it easier for Israelis to seize Palestinian land and directly buy property in the occupied West Bank. This legislation has been met with opposition from Arab countries and human rights groups, who claim that it amounts to a bid to illegally annex parts of the territory.

The UN Security Council meeting will also address the US-brokered “ceasefire” deal for Gaza, which went into effect on October 10. While aspects of the deal have moved forward, including Hamas releasing captives and increased humanitarian aid, the level of aid is still deemed insufficient by the UN.

A new technocratic committee has been appointed to administer Gaza’s daily affairs, but challenges lie ahead, including the deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas, and rebuilding Gaza. The US has pledged $5bn toward Gaza reconstruction and will commit thousands of personnel to international stabilisation and police forces for the territory.

The overlap between the UN Security Council meeting and Trump’s Board of Peace event has raised concerns about potential conflicting agendas between the two bodies.

Source: Al Jazeera