At the United Nations, Pakistan has raised doubts about the effectiveness of the Gaza ceasefire, questioning its validity as Israeli attacks and Palestinian deaths persist. During a UN Security Council session on Middle Eastern affairs, Pakistan’s UN representative, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, highlighted that over 1,200 Palestinians have died since the truce was declared. Ahmad challenged the notion of a holding ceasefire by asking, “If the ceasefire is holding — as we have been told — then how are strikes continuing and civilians being killed?”
Concerns are mounting within the Security Council about the dire conditions in Gaza and the ongoing violence in both Gaza and the West Bank, despite efforts to broker peace. UN Acting Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Ramiz Alakbarov, reported that Israeli airstrikes resumed on August 12 after a brief pause, resulting in 100 Palestinian deaths and over 400 injuries during the reporting period.
Athena Rayburn, executive director of the Association of International Development Agencies, emphasized the ongoing humanitarian crisis, noting that while aid delivery has improved, the overall situation for Palestinians remains grim, with 2 million people trapped and suffering.
Pakistan also cautioned against Israel’s E1 settlement project, which could jeopardize a political resolution by dissecting the occupied West Bank and undermining the territorial continuity of a future Palestinian state. Ahmad described the project as a “dangerous escalation,” warning it could lead to the displacement of thousands of Palestinians. He urged the Security Council to act against any steps toward annexation.
Palestinian Permanent Observer Riyad H. Mansour accused Israel of accelerating annexation efforts, particularly with the E1 settlement plan, which he claims aims to dismantle the Palestinian State in favor of a settler state. He criticized Israel for prioritizing territorial expansion over regional peace, stating, “They do not care that annexation kills any prospect for peace in our region.”
The meeting also saw criticism of Israeli plans for new settlements, with several delegates warning these developments threaten diplomatic resolutions to the conflict. France condemned Israeli policies in Gaza, stressing that Palestinian reconstruction should not depend on disarmament processes. French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont criticized Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s call for nightly killings in Gaza, advocating instead for improved living conditions and governance.
The United States, however, defended the UNSC Resolution 2803 and former President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, suggesting these offer alternatives to Hamas rule or Israeli occupation. U.S. Ambassador Michael G. Waltz acknowledged Gaza’s humanitarian needs but noted improvements in aid access. He argued that Hamas’s disarmament is crucial for reconstruction and a potential Israeli withdrawal.
Qatari Ambassador Alya Ahmed Saif al-Thani, representing the Arab Group, declared that peace requires ending the Israeli occupation and upholding Palestinians’ self-determination rights. She condemned ongoing Israeli violations and accused Israel of rejecting the comprehensive peace plan.
UN officials, including Alakbarov and Nickolay Mladenov, called for the full implementation of the 15-point Roadmap and Comprehensive Plan to resolve the Gaza conflict, which includes Hamas’s disarmament and an Israeli military withdrawal. Pakistan also demanded the release of Palestinian clearance revenues withheld by Israel, citing their importance for the Palestinian Authority’s service provision capabilities. Ahmad condemned settler violence in the West Bank and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
