The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question: Briefing and Consultations
On Monday morning (30 June), the Security Council will hold an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” (MEPQ). Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Mohamed Khaled Khiari is expected to brief on the Secretary-General’s latest quarterly report on the implementation of resolution 2334 of 23 December 2016. This resolution demanded that Israel cease all settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), including East Jerusalem, and called for immediate steps to prevent violence against civilians, including acts of terror. The latest report on resolution 2334 was circulated to Council members on 24 June and covers the period from 14 March to 17 June (S/2025/415).
Khiari is likely to brief Council members on the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Secretary-General’s report, citing figures from the Gaza Ministry of Health, notes that over 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in the territory since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, with women and children reportedly comprising the majority of casualties. During the reporting period, at least 5,407 Palestinians were killed and 17,365 were injured, while approximately 80 percent of Gaza was under evacuation orders issued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Additionally, 43 UN personnel were killed, bringing to 323 the total number of UN casualties since October 2023—the most of any conflict in UN history.
The Secretary-General’s report states that Palestinians in Gaza “are repeatedly coming under attack, confined to smaller and smaller spaces, and cruelly deprived of lifesaving relief”, rendering living conditions in the enclave “untenable”. On Monday, Khiari may refer to the continued deterioration of the situation and echo the report’s condemnation of Israel’s use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in densely populated areas, which the report says has caused “massive casualties and widespread destruction” of homes, schools, hospitals, mosques, and UN premises. Additionally, he is expected to reiterate the Secretary-General’s condemnation of the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack in Israel and the group’s continued holding in Gaza of the 50 remaining hostages, repeating calls for their immediate and unconditional release.
Khiari is also likely to express alarm at Israel’s restrictions on the entry of humanitarian and commercial supplies into Gaza, which have compounded the risk of famine in the territory. Although Israeli authorities announced a limited resumption of aid on 18 May—after imposing a total block for nearly three months in an effort to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages—the Secretary-General’s report stresses that the amount of aid entering the territory remains “wholly inadequate” and insufficient to meet “the massive needs of the population”. It also expresses grave concern about the delivery system administered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which operates separately from the UN and “does not meet the minimum criteria for principled humanitarian support”. According to the report, citing figures from the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least 397 Palestinians were killed and 3,031 injured while seeking aid, “including while trying to reach militarized food distribution points established by the [GHF]”. The report strongly condemns these incidents, calling them “unacceptable”, and urges an immediate and independent investigation.
On Monday, many Council members are likely to echo the Secretary-General’s assertion that “the continued collective punishment of the Palestinian people is unjustifiable”, and that Israel’s military operations in Gaza may amount to violations of international law, including international humanitarian law (IHL). Some members may reiterate concerns about statements by senior Israeli officials indicating intent to reoccupy Gaza or forcibly displace its population—moves that the Secretary-General’s report says would also constitute breaches of international law.
Many Council members are expected to reiterate their calls for a renewed ceasefire, full humanitarian access, and the release of hostages, and some may express regret that the Council was unable to adopt the 4 June draft resolution tabled by the ten elected members (E10), which made these three demands. Fourteen Council members voted in favour of the draft, but it was vetoed by the US, which objected to the absence of language condemning Hamas and argued that the text would undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to mediate a ceasefire. Speaking after the vote, the US maintained that the draft resolution drew a “false equivalence between Israel and Hamas” and failed to reflect “realities on the ground”.
By contrast, other members framed the text as a purely humanitarian measure and a reflection of Council consensus on the need for immediate action. Members such as Algeria, China, Pakistan, and Russia condemned the US veto, accusing the country of obstructing international consensus and enabling further violations of international law. Others—including Denmark, France, and the UK—agreed with the US that the draft text should condemn Hamas but nonetheless deemed the product a necessary response to the rapidly deteriorating conditions in Gaza. At Monday’s meeting, some members may reiterate these messages and advocate for renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war.
The meeting is also expected to cover the situation in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli security operations and settler violence have continued at an “alarming rate”, according to the Secretary-General’s report. It expresses concern about Israel’s ongoing military operation in the northern part of the territory, which has resulted in “a large number of casualties and the extensive destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure, and the continued massive displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians”. During the reporting period, 47 Palestinians, including ten children, were killed by Israeli security forces in the West Bank in the course of operations, demonstrations, clashes, airstrikes, and other incidents. Israeli forces also conducted extensive search-and-arrest operations—over 2,380 in total—which resulted in the detention of at least 1,500 Palestinians. Three Israelis—one woman, one child, and one IDF soldier—were killed by armed Palestinians, according to Israeli sources cited in the Secretary-General’s report.
Khiari may also reiterate the Secretary-General’s condemnation of Israel’s continued settlement expansion. During the reporting period, Israeli authorities advanced or approved approximately 9,870 housing units in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The report notes several additional steps that risk entrenching settlement activity, including the Israeli authorities’ recognition of 22 new settlements, the resumption of formal land registration in Area C—a process that had been suspended since 1968—and the construction of bypass roads aimed at restricting Palestinian access. The Secretary-General’s report reiterates that all Israeli settlements “have no legal validity and are in flagrant violation of international law”. Additionally, it condemns Israeli actions targeting the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), including the closure of schools in East Jerusalem and forced entries into UN compounds, which the report describes as a “blatant disregard” of international law and a violation of UN privileges and immunities.
Several Council members are also expected to express concern about the impact of rising regional tensions amid the intensification of direct conflict between Israel and Iran since 13 June. (For background and more information, see our 23 June What’s in Blue story.) Some members may welcome the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, announced by US President Donald Trump on 23 June, and urge both parties to uphold it.
Members may also refer to the Secretary-General’s call for the establishment of political and security frameworks to support early recovery in Gaza, address Israel’s legitimate security concerns, and lay the foundation for a viable two-state solution. Some may reference the postponed high-level international conference on the implementation of the two-state solution, which was scheduled to take place at UN Headquarters between 17 and 20 June—co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia—but was delayed for logistical and security reasons following the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Iran. Members may urge the prompt rescheduling of the conference and emphasise its potential to reinvigorate diplomatic momentum, citing the Secretary-General’s call for member states to “go beyond affirmations, and to think creatively about the concrete steps they will take to urgently support a viable two-State solution”.
