Secretary-General Calls for End to Occupation at Palestinian Rights Committee Session
As the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People convenes for 2026, humanitarian organizations in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory are sounding alarms over severe restrictions impacting their operations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgent need to end the occupation, warning that Israel’s plans for new housing units in the E1 Area could jeopardize the viability of a two-state solution. He also condemned recent Israeli actions that hinder the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), underscoring the necessity for international support.
UN Officials Highlight Humanitarian Crisis
During the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an end to the Israeli occupation, stressing that recent developments threaten the peace process. He specifically pointed to Israel’s tender for 3,401 housing units in the E1 Area, which he warned could disrupt the territorial continuity of the West Bank. Guterres stated that such actions would undermine the feasibility of a two-state solution, a long-sought resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He urged the international community to bolster support for UNRWA, which has faced increasing challenges due to new Israeli laws that restrict its operations. Guterres firmly stated that UNRWA facilities are United Nations premises and should be protected.
Destruction of UNRWA Facilities Raises Concerns
Michael Contet, Director of UNRWA’s New York Office, reported on the devastating destruction of the Agency’s compound in East Jerusalem, which occurred on January 25. Israeli authorities used bulldozers to demolish the facility, and Contet noted that a local official had even called for the annihilation of UNRWA staff. Despite the loss of 385 staff members and the destruction of numerous installations, approximately 11,000 UNRWA personnel in Gaza continue to provide essential services, including healthcare to nearly 100,000 Palestinians weekly and education to over 66,000 students. Contet highlighted ongoing bureaucratic hurdles that hinder humanitarian access and called for the lifting of restrictions on UNRWA’s operations, the protection of Palestinian refugees’ rights, and urgent funding to sustain its work.
Impact of Israeli Restrictions on Humanitarian Aid
Itay Epshtain, a Special Adviser with the Norwegian Refugee Council, detailed the adverse effects of Israeli restrictions on humanitarian organizations. He revealed that 37 international NGOs were informed on December 30, 2025, that their registrations would expire without proper assessments or guidance. This deregistration has already disrupted relief programs and supply chains, denying organizations the ability to rotate staff in and out of Gaza. Epshtain emphasized that these restrictions are not minor inconveniences; they significantly reduce aid to the Palestinian population, which relies heavily on international NGOs for essential services. He warned that such administrative actions could transform humanitarian assistance into a tool of oppression, further complicating the already dire situation.
Calls for Permanent Ceasefire and International Support
The Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine expressed deep concern over the humanitarian toll, citing 72,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza and the displacement of over 40,000 individuals in the West Bank. He condemned recent violence, including the killing of 31 Palestinian civilians by Israeli forces, and called for a permanent ceasefire. The Observer stressed the need for humanitarian organizations, including UNRWA, to continue their life-saving work without obstruction. He urged for immediate provision of 200,000 temporary housing units to support displaced individuals and called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The Observer reiterated that the West Bank and Gaza constitute a single territorial unit and emphasized the importance of recognizing Palestine as a full member of the United Nations.
In a related development, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People approved Chile’s request for membership and adopted its program of work for 2026. The committee’s continued efforts reflect a commitment to addressing the longstanding injustices faced by the Palestinian people, with representatives from various countries voicing their support for humanitarian assistance and the two-state solution.
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