The situation in the Middle East (including the Palestinian question) - Security Council, 9923rd meeting

‘Two-state solution on life support’, Special Coordinator tells Security Council, calling for urgent humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 03:09:42
• Production Date: 28 May 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Personal Subject: SIGRID KAAG
• Subject Topical: MIDDLE EAST SITUATION; TWO-STATE SOLUTION; CIVILIANS; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE; PEACE AND SECURITY; HOSTAGES; CONFLICT; TERRITORIES OCCUPIED BY ISRAEL; CHILDREN
• Geographic Subject: ISRAEL; PALESTINE; GAZA
• MAMS Id: 3401742
• Parent Id: 3401250
• Alternate Title: MTG SC 9923 MIDDLE EAST 28 MAY 2025 AM

Description

The two-State solution is on life support, the Security Council heard today from a senior United Nations official who called for urgent humanitarian assistance in Gaza while speakers for Israel and the State of Palestine accused each other of politicizing aid delivery. 

“Instead of saying goodbye, Palestinians in Gaza now say ‘see you in heaven’”, Sigrid Kaag, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ad Interim, said in her briefing. Since the collapse of the ceasefire in March, civilians have constantly come under fire and are deprived of life-saving relief. Israel must halt its devastating strikes on civilian life and infrastructure in Gaza, she urged. 

On 18 May, the UN was informed by Israeli authorities of the approval for the resumption of limited aid entry into Gaza. This is comparable to “a lifeboat after the ship has sunk”, she said, stressing that aid cannot be negotiable. Stressing that Israel has the right to live in peace and security, she said this was undeniably shaken by the horrific terror attacks of 7 October. The hostages need to be released unconditionally, she said, and Hamas and other armed groups must stop launching rockets towards Israel. 

The Council must move from managing the conflict to ending it, she said, adding that peace cannot be a transaction or a temporary arrangement. Also highlighting the dangerous trajectory in the West Bank, she pointed to the acceleration of the “de facto annexation through settlement expansion, land seizures and settler violence”. The General Assembly’s High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, to be held in June, must not end up as “another rhetorical exercise”, she said, adding: “Statehood is a right, not a reward.” 

• Briefer: Ms. Sigrid Kaag, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process ad interim 
• Briefer: Dr. Feroze Sidhwa 
• Statements: All Council members 
• Statement: Observer State of Palestine 
• Further statement: United States of America 
• Statement: Israel 
• Statement: United Arab Emirates (on behalf of: Arab Group) 

Related Sites and Documents

UN Meetings Coverage

S/PV.9923