United Nations, Feb 19: The United Nations Security Council is set to hold a high-level meeting on Wednesday to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and Israel’s moves to expand control in the West Bank, just ahead of world leaders travelling to Washington for the first session of President Donald Trump’s newly formed Board of Peace.
The meeting in New York was advanced from Thursday after Trump announced that his board would convene the same day, creating scheduling conflicts for diplomats expected to attend both events. The development underscores the possibility of overlapping agendas between the UN’s most powerful body and Trump’s initiative, which some countries fear could rival the Security Council’s role in addressing global conflicts.
Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour said he expects the international community to take concrete steps to halt what he described as Israel’s illegal annexation efforts, whether discussions take place in Washington or New York.
Foreign ministers from the United Kingdom, Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Indonesia are attending the Council’s monthly Middle East session after several Arab and Islamic nations requested urgent deliberations on Gaza and Israel’s West Bank settlement activities. The UK, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council, said the meeting will include briefings by UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo and, for the first time since the October 7 attacks, representatives from Israeli and Palestinian civil society.
Trump’s Board of Peace was initially conceived as a select group of leaders overseeing a 20-point plan for Gaza’s future. However, its expanded mandate to mediate conflicts worldwide has drawn skepticism from key US allies, including France and Germany, who have yet to join and have reaffirmed their support for the UN framework.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz defended the board’s composition, stating that key regional players such as Qatar and Egypt — which maintain contact with Hamas — have agreed to participate.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high over Israel’s land regulation measures in the West Bank, which Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen described as establishing “de facto sovereignty.” Palestinians and several international actors have condemned the move as unlawful annexation of territory envisioned for a future Palestinian state.
The Council is also expected to review progress in the US-brokered ceasefire that took effect on October 10 following more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas. While hostage releases and increased humanitarian aid have marked progress, major challenges remain, including Gaza’s reconstruction, disarmament of Hamas and the possible deployment of an international security force.
Trump said members of the Board of Peace have pledged $5 billion for Gaza’s reconstruction and indicated that thousands of personnel could be deployed for stabilization efforts, though further details are awaited. (Agencies)
