New York, Oct. 15 (Petra) -- The UN Security Council held an open debate on Thursday on the situation in the Middle East, particularly the question of Palestine, during which 70 speakers delivered statements.

The United Nations opened the session with a briefing by Ramiz Alakbarov, acting UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, who warned of the serious situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the risk of a return to war in Gaza. He stressed the need to end the occupation across the occupied Palestinian territories.

"My duty compels me to sound the alarm," Alakbarov said, pointing to the visible despair in the Gaza Strip.

"One year after the ceasefire, many have seen little improvement in their lives. This frustration cannot continue indefinitely. The risks of a return to war are greater than ever," he said.

Alakbarov said the West Bank had also reached a boiling point, with Palestinians facing persistent threats to their safety and livelihoods. These pressures were forcibly driving communities into increasingly fragmented areas, undermining the geographic basis for a future sovereign Palestinian state.

He stressed that the choice facing the international community was clear, adding that the ceasefire in Gaza must be underpinned by genuine recovery and a lasting political settlement.

Alakbarov noted that the international community had reaffirmed its steadfast support for a two-state solution during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly, calling for that support to be translated into coordinated and decisive measures on the ground.

He urged the international community to take action rather than settle for words and called for a return to a genuine peace process.

He also stressed the need to continue pursuing the "common goal" of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, with Jerusalem serving as the capital of both states.

//Petra// AF