New York, July 28 (Petra) - The UN Security Council met Tuesday to discuss the Middle East, with Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov briefing members on the "rapidly deteriorating situation" in the occupied West Bank.

Alakbarov warned that mounting violence in the occupied West Bank threatens to trigger a wider regional conflict unless "immediate steps" are taken. He cited the recent civilian casualties, displacement, property destruction, and an alarming rise in Israeli settler attacks targeting Palestinian communities, homes, places of worship, and infrastructure.

"Israel must take immediate steps to prevent settler violence, protect Palestinian communities, and ensure that those responsible for attacks are held accountable," Alakbarov said.

He criticized the Israeli Occupation Forces' operations, demolitions, forced displacement, movement restrictions, and accelerating settlement expansion, stating that "all settlements are illegal under international law." Alakbarov flagged violations at an UNRWA training center in Qalandia, where Israeli forces entered the facility without permission while students were attending class.

//Petra// HA