Pakistan warns UN Security Council of 'tipping point' in occupied West Bank

Pakistan has called on the international community to compel Israel to cease its expansion of Jewish settlements on Palestinian land, warning that the situation is nearing a "dangerous tipping point." The plea was made at the UN Security Council, where UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank have no legal standing and contravene international law.

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The situation is approaching a dangerous tipping point. Unless this trajectory is reversed, the consequences for the two-state solution, and for peace and stability across the region, could be catastrophic.

During the Security Council debate on escalating attacks against Palestinians and settlement growth, Pakistan's UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad stated, "Unless this trajectory is reversed, the consequences for the two-state solution, and for peace and stability across the region, could be catastrophic." He detailed how settlement expansion, settler violence, land seizures, and the extension of Israeli authority contribute to entrenching the occupation and undermining the possibility of a Palestinian state.

Ambassador Ahmad also expressed alarm over increased provocations at Al Aqsa Mosque, urging Israel to respect its historical and legal status quo. He called for international protection for Palestinians and accountability for settler violence. Additionally, he demanded Israel release withheld Palestinian tax revenues, emphasizing their importance for Palestinian institutions.

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Much more must be done to prevent and prosecute acts of violence.

British Ambassador Sarah MacIntosh condemned the escalating violence, describing settler attacks on Palestinian villages as "appalling" and noting that children are frequently exposed to violence and displacement. She asserted that Israeli settlers have acted with impunity for too long and called for stronger measures to prevent and prosecute such acts. Russia's Ambassador Vassily A. Nebenzia warned that the West Bank is "approaching a point of no return," risking profound regional destabilization.

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The West Bank was “approaching a point of no return”.