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The United Nations Security Council has advanced its deliberations on the Israel-Palestine situation, convening earlier than planned so diplomats can attend both the Council session in New York and President Donald Trump’s Washington forum known as the Board of Peace. The discussion focuses on the status of the Gaza ceasefire, the implementation of its provisions, and growing international concern about Israeli policies that aim to extend control and property claims in the occupied West Bank.
Diplomats from a broad cross-section of countries — including the United Kingdom, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia and Israel — are expected to participate. The timing change reflects an effort to avoid scheduling conflicts and highlights a widening gap between the United Nations’ institutional process and parallel initiatives led by the United States administration.
Why the meeting was moved and what is at stake
The Security Council adjusted its timetable so delegations could engage with both forums. Observers view this overlap as symptomatic of competing agendas: the UN as the established multilateral authority and the US-backed Board of Peace, which President Trump chairs and envisions exerting influence “far beyond Gaza.” Critics argue the board risks sidelining the UN and pursuing an independent political trajectory that could reshape diplomatic norms.
At the heart of the Council’s agenda are two linked issues: the fragile Gaza ceasefire agreed in November under the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, and Israeli measures in the West Bank — notably land registration and new property acquisition rules — that many states call a de facto path to annexation.
International condemnation and the coalition of states
On the previous day, representatives from some 85 UN member states and several international bodies issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s recent West Bank initiatives. Speaking for the coalition, Palestine’s UN envoy underlined that these unilateral actions run counter to international obligations and must be reversed. The signatories included a wide range of countries and organisations: Australia, China, France, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the League of Arab States and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, among others.
The joint message emphasized that policies aimed at changing the demographic makeup or legal status of territory occupied since 1967 — including East Jerusalem — are unlawful and risk undermining prospects for a negotiated two-state solution. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has similarly warned that the new land registration measures could result in widespread dispossession of Palestinian property and expand Israeli control over Area C, which comprises roughly 60 percent of the West Bank.
Legal context and international rulings
International legal institutions have weighed in: a 2026 International Court of Justice decision declared that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza is unlawful and called for an end to the occupation. The court also concluded that the settlement regime in the occupied territories violates international law. Those findings underpin many states’ objections to Israel’s recent steps, including a move by the Israeli security cabinet on February 8 to ease mechanisms for seizing Palestinian land and buying property in the West Bank.
Gaza ceasefire: progress and the long road ahead
The Security Council session will also assess progress under the Gaza truce that entered into effect on October 10. There have been measurable advances: Hamas released detainees it had held, some humanitarian deliveries into Gaza increased, and a technocratic committee was named to oversee daily administration. Yet the UN and humanitarian actors say aid levels remain inadequate. Crucial and difficult steps remain unresolved: deployment of an international security contingent, the disarmament of militant groups, and comprehensive reconstruction amid continuing Israeli strikes reported since the truce.
President Trump has announced that the Board of Peace pledges $5 billion for Gaza’s rebuilding and anticipates contributions of thousands of personnel for stabilization and policing tasks. Several countries, including Indonesia, have indicated readiness to mobilize troops for a potential mission; Indonesian officials mentioned a force availability goal of up to 8,000 personnel by the end of June for humanitarian and security duties.
Regional and human impact
Outside diplomatic chambers, tensions persist on the ground. Settler violence in the occupied West Bank has continued amid the new legislation, with reports of attacks causing injuries to Palestinians. Human rights groups, Arab states and Palestinian representatives view the evolving policy landscape as an attempt to formalize control over Palestinian land, with broad implications for civilians and for the feasibility of a future Palestinian state.
The Security Council meeting, occurring ahead of the US-led forum, will be watched closely for signals about international unity, possible measures to prevent annexation, and tangible steps to consolidate the Gaza truce. Member states urging decisive action hope the Council will adopt clear language — and potentially measures — to deter further unilateral moves that they say jeopardize a negotiated peace.