2025 Annual Report of Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to the General Assembly (A/80/35)

01 September 2025

United Nations General Assembly

Report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

(A/80/35)

Official Records
Eightieth Session
Supplement No. 35

Chapter I

Introduction

1. The present report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People has been submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 77/22, adopted on 30 November 2022. It covers the implementation by the Committee of its programme of work (A/AC.183/2025/1), formulated to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination. Its objectives include maintaining international awareness of the plight of the Palestinian people, mobilizing efforts aimed at achieving a just and comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine in accordance with international law and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace, enhancing international solidarity with the Palestinian people and supporting the Government of the State of Palestine in its capacity-building efforts towards promoting a viable and sustainable independent State of Palestine.
2. Chapter II consists of an overview of the political context relating to the question of Palestine during the reporting period, from 2 September 2024 to 31 August 2025.
3. Chapters III and IV contain an outline of the mandate of the Committee as set out by the General Assembly and information on the membership of the Committee and the organization of its work.
4. Chapter V covers the action taken by the Committee, including its participation in meetings of the Security Council and its continuing engagement with Member States, intergovernmental organizations and civil society. It also covers international conferences, including in virtual format, capacity-building and advocacy activities, organized by the Committee and other mandated activities carried out by the Division for Palestinian Rights on behalf of the Committee.
5. Chapter VI provides an overview of the special information programme on the question of Palestine implemented by the Department of Global Communications in accordance with General Assembly resolution 75/23.
6. The conclusions and recommendations of the Committee to the General Assembly are set out in chapter VII of the report.

Chapter II

Overview of the political context relating to the question of Palestine

7. The question of Palestine has remained on the agenda of the United Nations for more than 77 years. That period has been marked by a 58-year-long illegal occupation by Israel, grave breaches of international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law, an 18-year blockade of the Gaza Strip and the continuing plight of millions of Palestine refugees since 1948. Since the start of the conflict in Gaza in 2023, Israel has been waging an extensive and indiscriminate military campaign on the Strip and has increased Israeli military and settler violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Many international experts and prominent legal scholars, including the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese, (see A/79/384) have determined that the military campaign being conducted by Israel constitutes “genocide” and a policy of “erasure of the Indigenous Palestinian people”. Several Member States have also supported the case submitted by South Africa to the International Court of Justice in December 2023, entitled Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip.[1] While the case was still pending at the date of reporting, the Court issued orders on provisional measures to Israel in January, March and May 2024, to which the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator referred in his address to the Security Council in July 2025.[2]
8. The attacks and blockade on Gaza by Israel have triggered a humanitarian catastrophe, marked by the displacement and dispossession of most of the population of Gaza, the spread of starvation, famine and diseases, and the widespread destruction of homes and other civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, universities, schools, churches, mosques, water and sanitation systems and businesses, causing the death of some 61,722 Palestinians and injuring over 154,000.[3]
9. This humanitarian disaster has had a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable civilians. In its report to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-eighth session, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) indicated that, as a result of air strikes, shelling and other acts of warfare in Gaza, some 70 per cent of the fatalities were women and children, indicating a consistent breach of core principles of international humanitarian law, particularly those concerning distinction, precaution and proportionality, and international human rights law (see A/HRC/58/28). Israel was listed in the annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict of June 2025 (A/79/878-S/2025/247) for grave violations against children.
10. While negotiations for a ceasefire stalled, Israeli military operations continued, destroying over 80 per cent of the infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, and the United Nations warned that the fuel shortage in Gaza had reached critical levels.[4] Most of the cropland in Gaza has been damaged, and the local fishing industry has suffered heavily from the conflict, exacerbating the food insecurity crisis. In February, the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food described the situation in Gaza as “the fastest starvation campaign in modern history”.[5]
11. As the Israeli military aggression continued and the blockade was intensified, reports emerged of the suffering of Palestinian civilians who had been injured, maimed, orphaned, detained, tortured or were struggling to meet their basic needs owing to severe shortages, including of medical supplies, which has caused the worrisome spread of communicable diseases. The Palestinian population in Gaza continued to endure repeated displacement, forced to flee from one so-called “safe zone” to another under the evacuation orders issued by Israel, only for those areas to become Israeli military targets. Since the ceasefire agreed on 19 January ended in March 2025, more than 700,000 people have been displaced – often more than once, with no safe place to go.[6] Casualties among humanitarian workers also surged, with at least 107 aid workers killed since the start of 2025 alone,[7] bringing the total to 479 since October 2023, among them over 360 United Nations staff, the majority of whom were personnel of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). At least 242 journalists and media workers had also been killed.[8] In addition, since early November 2023, the Israel Defense Forces have detained thousands of Palestinian individuals in Gaza, with the majority of whom are men and boys, although women and girls have also been affected.
12. With the world’s attention focused on Gaza, Israel undertook further measures to deepen its occupation through the continued construction and expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the seizure of Palestinian land, the demolition of homes and the displacement of Palestinian civilians. The approval of more than 3,400 housing units in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank threatens the possibility of a Palestinian State. These illegal actions persist in violation of international humanitarian law, countless United Nations resolutions and the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on 19 July 2024 (see A/78/968), in which the Court determined the presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, to be unlawful and called for its rapid end.
13. Despite international and United Nations condemnation, the surge of violence in the occupied West Bank was marked by intensified Israeli military and settler raids, along with illegal settlement expansions and other related illegal measures. In January 2025, the Israel Defense Forces began to conduct a large-scale military operation in the northern West Bank (Janin, Tulkarm and Tubas), displacing over 40,000 civilians from camps,[9] a level not seen since 1967.[10]
14. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities continued their provocations and challenges to the historic and legal status quo at the Holy Sites and pushed to increase the Jewish presence and influence, particularly in Silwan and Shaykh Jarrah, with ongoing evictions of Palestinian residents and home demolitions.
15. Sustained settler attacks and restrictions on movement and water and grazing access across the West Bank made it nearly impossible for families to remain, forming part of a broader strategy of coercion, with the resulting displacements amounting to forcible transfer. As Palestinians faced eviction and dispossession, Israeli settlement expansion continued with open declarations by Israeli officials of plans to build more settlements and transfer more Israeli settlers to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in grave breach of international law. At the same time, military operations and the demolition and seizure of Palestinian land and structures continued, with over 1,630 Palestinian-owned structures, including 145 donor-funded ones, demolished during the reporting period.[11]
16. Since the start of the war on Gaza, UNRWA has been under relentless political and financial attack, aimed at obstructing or eliminating its mandate. The Commissioner-General of UNRWA addressed a letter to the President of the General Assembly on 28 October, warning, inter alia, that “the Agency is under such physical, political and operational attack – unprecedented in United Nations history – that implementation of its mandate may become impossible without decisive intervention” (as cited in resolution ES-10/25, seventh preambular paragraph). On 11 December, the General Assembly adopted resolution ES-10/25, reaffirming its full support for the mandate of UNRWA and the need for its unimpeded operation in all fields, including in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Nevertheless, Israel has imposed a ban on UNRWA operations, forcing the closure of the UNRWA compound and schools in East Jerusalem in May 2025 and denying visas and entry to the Occupied Palestinian Territory to UNRWA international staff.
17. Facing deadlocks in the discussions at the Security Council, the General Assembly has been active in supporting Palestinian rights. The General Assembly adopted resolution ES-10/24 on 18 September 2024, demanding that Israel end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory no later than 12 months from the adoption of the resolution. The Assembly also adopted, by an overwhelming majority, resolution 79/232 on 19 December, urgently requesting an International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations and third States, including to ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed supplies essential to the survival of the Palestinian civilian population as well as of basic services and humanitarian and development assistance, for the benefit of the Palestinian civilian population, and in support of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
18. Among other diplomatic initiatives, on 31 January, a coalition of nations, including several members of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, formed the Hague Group to uphold international law and hold Israel accountable for its actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. At an emergency conference of the Group, organized in Bogotá on 15 and 16 July, 30 participating States called for international law to be enforced through immediate domestic policies and legislation, including a halt to arms transfers to Israel, and an immediate ceasefire.[12]
19. Mediation efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population seemed to reach a breakthrough when parties to the conflict in Gaza agreed to a ceasefire on 19 January. However, the pause was short-lived as Israel reimposed its blockade on 2 March and launched air strikes on Gaza on 18 March, effectively ending the ceasefire. As a result, the Secretary-General took the decision to reduce the Organization’s footprint in Gaza,[13] even as humanitarian needs soared and the concern over protection of civilians intensified. In a draft resolution presented in June 2025, the 10 elected members of the Security Council reiterated, inter alia, the call for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, to be respected by all parties, and the immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and its safe and unhindered distribution. In the draft resolution, continued support was expressed for the diplomatic efforts by the United States of America, Egypt and Qatar aimed at achieving a return to the ceasefire deal (see S/PV.9929); however, the draft resolution was not adopted, owing to a veto by the United States.
20. As the situation deteriorated on the ground, due to ongoing blockade and denial of access, including to the United Nations, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a United States-based organization supported by Israel, started to operate in May. However, the United Nations and other major humanitarian organizations called for an end to its operations, citing violations of key humanitarian principles, such as neutrality, impartiality and independence.[14] Since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began distributing aid in Gaza, as at 31 July, at least 1,373 Palestinians had been killed either trying to reach its distribution points or waiting for other aid convoys.[15] On 30 May, the Bureau of the Committee issued a press statement[16] (see para. 48) indicating that it was firmly opposed to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, adding that the initiative was an attempt, as described by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at “engineered scarcity” and “a policy of deprivation by design”.[17] On 22 August, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification alert, it was confirmed that famine was present in Gaza.
21. On 30 June, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 published the advance version of her report entitled “From economy of occupation to economy of genocide” (A/HRC/59/23).[18] In that report to the Human Rights Council, she emphasized that corporate profiteering had enabled and legitimized the occupation by Israel and its actions against Palestinians. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel has also been active addressing human rights violations and other crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, issuing various reports in this regard (see, for example, A/HRC/59/26).
22. Fear of mass forced displacement of civilians in Gaza increased after public threats by representatives of the Government of Israel. At the Security Council on 30 June, the Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific highlighted the concerns of the United Nations about Israeli military operations in Gaza that were rendering large areas of Gaza uninhabitable and rejected the forced displacement of the Palestinian population from any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which would constitute a breach of international law obligations.[19]
23. In July 2025, Israeli officials unveiled a controversial initiative to relocate hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to a so-called “humanitarian city” in southern Gaza. Critics, including international organizations and former Israeli officials, have condemned the plan as a form of forced transfer and likened it to a concentration camp, citing concerns over military control and human rights violations.
24. After being postponed in June 2025, the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 79/81, was held from 28 to 30 July. The Conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, issued an outcome document (A/CONF.243/2025/1) calling, inter alia, for a halt to all violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, respect for international law and accountability, immediate efforts to realize the two-State solution and recognition of the State of Palestine, which has already been heeded by a number of countries, which have pledged to do so in September 2025, at the eightieth session of the General Assembly. The Secretary-General warned that the two-State solution was “at a breaking point”[20] and urged the international community to act to achieve it.

Chapter III

Mandate of the Committee

25. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was established by the General Assembly in its resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975 with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty and return to the homes and property from which they had been displaced, as recognized by the Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974. The mandate of the Committee has evolved over the years to include greater advocacy for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the mobilization of assistance. Additional information about the Committee is available on the website maintained by the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat.[21]
26. On 30 November 2022, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the Committee (resolution 77/22) and requested the Department of Global Communications to continue to implement the special information programme on the question of Palestine (resolution 77/24). On 3 December 2024, it requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division for Palestinian Rights with the resources necessary for its programme of work (resolution 79/82). These mandates will be reviewed only as necessary. The Committee’s report will continue to be produced annually. On 3 December 2024, the Assembly also adopted resolution 79/81, entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”, in which it, inter alia, reaffirmed the pillars of a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.
27. The work of the Committee is fully aligned with the decisions of the main intergovernmental bodies of the United Nations, including the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Human Rights Council and the International Court of Justice, as well as the work of the Secretary-General and the programmes, funds and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, with which it collaborates extensively.

Chapter IV

Organization of work

A. Membership and officers

28. The Committee is composed of 25 Member States that represent different regional groups and that support the international consensus for a two-State solution: Afghanistan, Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Türkiye and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
29. The 24 observers of the Committee are Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, the Niger, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam and Yemen, as well as the State of Palestine, the African Union, the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
30. The Bureau of the Committee is elected each year from among the permanent representatives of Committee members. At its 421st meeting, on 5 February 2025, chaired by the Secretary-General, the Committee elected, in his personal capacity, Coly Seck (Senegal) as Chair. The following permanent representatives were elected as Vice-Chairs for the year: Ernesto Soberón Guzmán (Cuba), Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir (Indonesia), Ahmad Faisal Muhamad (Malaysia), Neville Melvin Gertze (Namibia) and Jaime Hermida Castillo (Nicaragua). In accordance with established practice, the State of Palestine participates in the work of both the Committee and the Bureau as an observer.
31. Members of the Bureau represented the Committee at all international conferences organized by the Committee, including by chairing and moderating conference sessions, and on delegation visits. On the margins of the conferences, they held meetings with senior officials of the respective host countries.
32. Committee members and observers have actively advocated for the realization of the rights of the Palestinian people, including in the Security Council. In 2024 and 2025, five Committee members, Ecuador, Guyana, Malta, Pakistan and Sierra Leone, and one observer, Algeria, served in the Security Council as elected members.

B. Participation in the work of the Committee

33. As in previous years, the Committee invited all States Members of the United Nations and observers to participate in its work. In its activities, the Committee also regularly engaged with civil society representatives, including from Israel.

Chapter V

Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 77/22 and 79/82

A. Introduction

34. The Committee implemented its programme of work to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, bring about an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and support the achievement of the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders. Its activities are aligned with international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law; United Nations resolutions; advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice; the women and peace and security agenda; the programme of the United Nations country team; and the Sustainable Development Goals. The Committee has continuously adjusted its programme of work in line with developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and geopolitical developments relating to the question of Palestine.
35. The Committee supports the universally recognized rights of an occupied people and the right to self-determination, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments of international law, including relevant United Nations resolutions. Since the start of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023, the Committee has further engaged the diplomatic community through formal and informal intergovernmental processes to call for protection for the Palestinian people and respect for their inalienable rights and to promote the recognition of the State of Palestine, including through outreach meetings. It has raised public awareness on various aspects of the conflict, including the impact on women and children, through conferences, in-person, hybrid and virtual events and the media, including social media. In addition, the Committee has promoted partnerships with Governments, relevant bodies of the United Nations system, including UNRWA, intergovernmental organizations, regional bodies and civil society organizations. It has implemented capacity-building projects for the State of Palestine and convened a commemoration of the Nakbah in May.

B. Mobilization of the diplomatic community

36. During the reporting period, the Bureau closely monitored the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and held nine meetings.
37. On 11 September 2024, the Bureau held a meeting in preparation for its annual meeting, on the same day, with the Secretary-General. At that meeting, it was stressed that the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory was an absolute priority for the United Nations, and the Secretary-General reaffirmed his commitment to the Gaza ceasefire and the two-State solution. It was noted that there could be no “day after” without a political horizon leading to a two-State solution.
38. Another Bureau meeting with the Secretary-General was held on 26 August 2025 to assess the latest developments, including follow-up to the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.
39. On 10 October 2024, the Bureau met to discuss the next steps for the implementation of General Assembly resolution ES-10/24 on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the consequences of the illegal presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
40. From 3 to 5 December, a Committee delegation composed of the Chair and the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine travelled to Ottawa to meet with the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group and other officials.
41. On 6 December, the Bureau held its annual retreat in New York to reflect on the implementation of its 2024 programme of work and discuss activities in 2025, with a heightened focus on advocacy needs concerning the crisis in Gaza.
42. On 5 February 2025, in a meeting chaired by the Secretary-General, the Committee elected Coly Seck as Chair of the Committee. The Committee officially adopted its programme of work for 2025 and heard a briefing by a representative of UNRWA, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food and the co-founder of the Gaza Soup Kitchen.
43. On 26 February, the Bureau organized a meeting with the representatives of the 10 elected members of the Security Council, who unanimously stressed the need for the ceasefire to become permanent and for a determined path towards the two-State solution and recognition of the State of Palestine, including at the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.
44. On 3 April, the Bureau held a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner-General of UNRWA. Participants stressed the need for consistent messaging on the indispensable and irreplaceable role and mandate of UNRWA. Its mandate could end only when Palestinians had realized their inalienable rights, including the right of return of the Palestine refugees within a comprehensive, just solution. The participants agreed on the need to fund the reconstruction of Gaza and to continue to exert pressure for accountability.
45. On 3 April, the Bureau held a meeting to discuss upcoming Committee events, such as the Nakbah commemoration and the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.
46. On 21 June, a Committee delegation composed of the Chair and the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine attended the fifty-first session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, held in Istanbul, Türkiye, at which the Chair delivered a statement.
47. From 7 to 9 July, in the margins of the 2025 Conference on the Question of Jerusalem, convened in Dakar by the Committee and OIC on 9 July, the Committee delegation held bilateral meetings with counterparts from the Government, the parliament and the civil society of Senegal.
48. During the reporting period, the Bureau broadened its global outreach, leveraging both traditional channels and an expanded social media presence to issue six public statements. On 18 September 2024, it welcomed General Assembly resolution ES-10/24 on implementing the landmark advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (see A/78/968) demanding that Israel bring to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.[22] On 31 October 2024, it condemned the decision of Israel to bar UNRWA;[23] and on 20 December 2024, it endorsed General Assembly resolution 79/232 requesting an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the humanitarian obligations of Israel.[24] The Bureau called upon Israel to remove obstructions to the provision of humanitarian relief and welcomed the Gaza ceasefire on 31 January 2025,[25] then sounded the alarm on 6 May 2025 as the ceasefire collapsed and humanitarian conditions worsened.[26] Marking 600 days of conflict on 30 May 2025, it reiterated its call for immediate, unhindered humanitarian access.[27]
49. The Committee delivered statements at the Security Council quarterly debates on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, held in October 2024 and January, April and July 2025, highlighting the catastrophic situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and called for collective action to end the Israeli military onslaught in Gaza, achieve the two-State solution and realize the rights of the Palestinian people, including the rights to self-determination and independence.

C. Raising awareness of the question of Palestine

50. The Committee continued to raise awareness about the political, human rights and humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, with a focus on the conflict in Gaza, including the situation of Palestinian women, children and young people. It organized briefings by experts on specific issues during Committee meetings, side events and conferences, and continued to disseminate publications and information through social media platforms. Details regarding each activity can be found on the Committee’s website.[28]
51. On 31 October 2024, the Committee convened a briefing on the theme “International legal responsibilities for preventing genocide, holding perpetrators of war crimes accountable, and for ending the unlawful occupation of Palestine”. United Nations Special Rapporteurs and civil society representatives warned of the credible risk that Israel may be committing the crime of genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip on the basis of the definition in article II of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
52. On 12 November, the Committee held closed consultations with civil society organizations working on the question of Palestine on the theme “Obligations of third States pursuant to the International Court of Justice advisory opinion” to brainstorm proposals for engagement with States, parliaments and the general public and for efforts to convene an international peace conference aimed at justly resolving the question of Palestine in accordance with international law and United Nations resolutions.
53. As mandated by the General Assembly, the Committee commemorated the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 26 November at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event featured statements by the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Security Council and the Deputy Secretary-General, in which they reaffirmed Palestinian rights and the need for a just and lasting solution. The Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine read a message from the President of the State of Palestine. Representatives of the African Union, LAS, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and OIC delivered statements, as did a representative of civil society, Dr. Tanya Haj Hassan. The meeting on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was the most successful to date; it was attended by 97 Member States, with 42 States sending messages of solidarity, and by dozens of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals.[29] Participants at the event underscored the long-standing position of the United Nations on Palestine, highlighted the need for urgent efforts to resolve the question of Palestine and emphasized the inalienable rights of its people, including self-determination and sovereignty. They called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply forthwith with international law and cease attacks and violations, including in Gaza. Similar commemorations were held at United Nations offices in Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna.
54. A photo exhibit entitled “Gaza, Palestine: a crisis of humanity, a cry for justice” was inaugurated at United Nations Headquarters as part of the commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and was displayed from 4 December 2024 to 10 January 2025. The exhibit, the first at United Nations Headquarters since the start of the conflict in Gaza, showcased photos by Palestinian photojournalists, accompanied by their own testimonies, and depicted the profound human suffering in Gaza through powerful imagery, capturing scenes of displacement, destruction and the daily struggles of the Palestinian people.
55. On 20 March, the Committee organized its annual virtual event in the margins of the session of the Commission on the Status of Women, titled “The destruction of the health system in Palestine: a lifeline in peril for women and girls”. An all-female panel featuring the Special Rapporteur on the right to health, a Palestinian physician from Gaza and two NGO representatives discussed the devastating impact of the conflict on the health system in Gaza and the heavy toll on women and children.
56. On 3 April, the Committee held a meeting focusing on the impact of settlements and forced displacement with a representative of OHCHR and heard a presentation by the co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary “No other land”, which was screened at the meeting.
57. On 15 May, the Committee held the seventy-seventh commemoration of the Nakbah at United Nations Headquarters in New York, followed by the screening of excerpts from the documentary “From ground zero” on the war on Gaza.
58. On 15 and 16 May, the Committee held the first 2025 consultations with civil society organizations working on the question of Palestine, on the theme “International action towards ending the Nakbah and realizing the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people” at United Nations Headquarters. Experts from the State of Palestine, Israel, Africa, Europe and the Americas delivered briefings on ongoing efforts and recent findings by civil society organizations and special procedure mandate holders. Participants discussed further coordination and cooperation between Member States and civil society, including in preparation for the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.
59. On 9 July, the Committee and OIC held the 2025 Conference on the Question of Jerusalem, on the theme “Palestinian oppression and displacement in Jerusalem in the shadow of the war: a microcosm of the situation throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory”, in Dakar. The event was attended by OIC member States and other diplomatic representatives. Experts from Palestine, Israel and several African countries, including Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and participants focused on the situation in East Jerusalem and the wider Occupied Palestinian Territory – and discussed practical actions that States and civil society organizations could take to operationalize and implement General Assembly resolution ES-10/24, in the context of the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.
60. Leveraging a robust digital footprint, the Committee broadened its global reach and countered misinformation and disinformation by continually supplying timely, authoritative content on the question of Palestine. Every key metric – website traffic, number of social media followers and mailing list subscriptions – continued its upward trajectory throughout the reporting period. As at 23 July 2025, 2.5 million page views had been recorded for the Committee’s website, consolidating its role as a credible reference point. Since January 2020, the number of mailing list subscribers has risen steadily to 16,971, while the X (formerly Twitter) account now has more than 27,000 followers and the YouTube channel has exceeded 31,600 subscribers, with 3.3 million cumulative views. These platforms, together with the multilingual mailing website, served as indispensable conduits for disseminating the publications and statements of the Committee, thereby amplifying its advocacy and awareness-raising efforts.
61. Now in its thirty-first year, the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine remains an indispensable research tool for diplomats, scholars and the wider public, averaging some 250,000 page views each month. The collection has surpassed 45,000 records, making it the largest and most comprehensive online repository on the subject, ranging from current United Nations documents to rare archival material dating back decades. Moreover, to increase accessibility, documents are increasingly being disseminated in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish, in addition to English.
62. In collaboration with the Office of Information and Communications Technology, the Division for Palestinian Rights continued to improve the accessibility of UNPal, an artificial-intelligence-based chatbot for the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine website. Other ongoing enhancements to the website are aimed at making it more accessible to everyone, including speakers of all the official languages and persons with disabilities.
63. The Committee continued to produce and disseminate a range of publications through the Division for Palestinian Rights. These included a weekly publication on NGO activities related to the question of Palestine, monthly bulletins compiling key official documents of the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations, quarterly newsletters on the Committee’s activities, an annual compilation of United Nations reports on the question of Palestine and an annual compilation of all relevant resolutions issued by United Nations entities. These publications were distributed to an expanding network of subscribers, including research institutions, universities, diplomatic missions, political stakeholders, students, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations and media representatives. All materials were made available on the Committee’s official website.

D. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations, non‑governmental organizations and United Nations system entities

64. The Committee continued to cooperate with intergovernmental organizations. On 21 June, a Committee delegation attended the fifty-first session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (see para. 46). On 9 July, in Dakar, it jointly organized with OIC the 2025 Conference on the Question of Jerusalem (see para. 47). The African Union, LAS and OIC regularly attended Committee meetings as observers and participated in its work.
65. During its activities, the Committee, through the Division for Palestinian Rights, continued its long-standing cooperation with the United Nations system, including the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations country teams, UNRWA, the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, the Department of Global Communications (including the United Nations information centres), the Human Rights Council, OHCHR, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the United Nations System Staff College.
66. The Committee continued to collaborate with NGOs in promoting Palestinian rights, inviting civil society representatives, including those from the State of Palestine and Israel, to all public events and to the two annual consultations with civil society organizations (see paras. 52 and 58). During the consultations, participants highlighted the need for accountability for the occupying Power and called for third State actions, including sanctions and a halt to arms transfers and trade agreements with Israel. The consultations served as preparatory meetings for the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. As is customary, a civil society representative was invited to speak at the Committee’s commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (see para. 53).

E. Capacity development

67. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 79/82, the Committee through the Division for Palestinian Rights, continued to offer training opportunities aimed at enhancing the capacity of officials from the State of Palestine, through both in-person and online modalities.
68. In collaboration with UNITAR, the Committee supported the participation of two officials from the State of Palestine in a training course entitled “The art of speechwriting”, held from 14 October to 3 November 2024, aimed at strengthening the individual capacity of diplomats serving in roles requiring refined skills in speechwriting and public speaking.
69. From 21 October to 29 November 2024, the Committee conducted its annual six-week capacity-development programme for two Palestinian career diplomats (both women), focusing on multilateral diplomacy, peace, security and global developments shaping the agenda of the United Nations, offering insights into the Organization’s formal and informal processes, including the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly.

Chapter VI

Action taken by the Department of Global Communications in accordance with General Assembly resolution 77/24

70. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 77/24 of 30 November 2022, the Department of Global Communications continued to implement its special information programme on the question of Palestine.
71. On 1 November 2024, the Department held its annual International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East at the United Nations Office at Geneva. Media professionals and scholars from Israel, the State of Palestine, Switzerland and elsewhere examined two themes: “Freedom of the press and safety of journalists in a time of war” and “Behind the headlines of Gaza: media challenges and perspectives”.
72. The Department organized its annual Shireen Abu Akleh Training Programme for Palestinian Broadcasters and Journalists in New York and Washington, D.C., from 4 November to 6 December. Five journalists participated, gaining practical experience through media skills courses. They attended meetings and briefings with United Nations officials and representatives of Voice of America and the Washington, D.C., International Film Festival, among others. Participants also spent a day shadowing professionals at the Washington, D.C., bureau of Al Jazeera.
73. The Web Services Section continued to support the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine team, while United Nations social media accounts were used to promote the Committee’s events to their 75 million followers in the six official languages, as well as Hindi, Kiswahili and Portuguese.
74. UN News produced thousands of multimedia pieces on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in 10 languages. The UN News Arabic Unit alone produced more than 900 multimedia stories, many picked up by major media outlets, including Al Jazeera, Russia Today Arabic and Xinhua. For example, on 1 June, the Unit published an article titled “Alive but not living: Gazans displaced and living under the rubble” that was picked up by Al Jazeera in English and Arabic.
75. During the reporting period, UN Video created some 200 short news videos, published by UN News and social media accounts, and those of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, while UN Photo captured more than 1,000 relevant images and posted some 600 images on the website. Video news packages produced by UNifeed were used by broadcasters in over 115 countries, including Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN, EURONEWS, France 24 and i24 News.
76. The Meetings Coverage Section issued 348 press releases in English and French on the question of Palestine. Emergency sessions of the General Assembly and other intergovernmental meetings were covered live and made available on demand by UN Web TV.
77. The Visitors’ Services Section continued to raise awareness through the permanent exhibit of the Department of Global Communications titled “The United Nations and the question of Palestine”, which is featured on the United Nations guided tour route. During the reporting period, the exhibit was viewed by over 196,000 visitors in New York. The United Nations Speakers Bureau continued to host briefings on the question of Palestine for graduate students from the United States.
78. As at 1 July 2025, the United Nations iLibrary platform featured 21 books on the subject of Palestine, as well as 166 chapters, 4 articles and 1 periodical.[30]
79. United Nations information centres worldwide marked the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, on 29 November, by organizing events and sharing the Secretary-General’s message in local languages. For example, the United Nations information centres in Rabat and Lima, in collaboration with the local embassies of the State of Palestine, hosted commemorative events with the participation of diplomats, representatives of political parties, NGOs, academia and the media and young people. The United Nations information centres also supported visits by senior United Nations officials to the region. The United Nations information centre in Cairo provided extensive communications support for the participation of the Secretary-General in the extraordinary LAS summit on Gaza, in March 2025, which generated significant attention across local and regional outlets, with a total of 55 media reports.

Chapter VII

Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee

80. In developing its recommendations set out below, the Committee has taken into account the deliberations at Committee and Bureau meetings, briefings received, outreach, international conferences and events involving Member States, civil society organizations and regional organizations and recent United Nations resolutions.

A. Action by the Committee in response to the conflict and humanitarian crisis

81. The Committee strongly condemns the military campaign being conducted by Israel in Gaza, which has led to mass displacement, starvation and the spread of disease and has resulted in the death of over 61,722 Palestinians and injuries to more than 154,000 men, women, children and older persons as at July 2025, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. It condemns the 7 October 2023 attacks by armed Palestinian groups that resulted in the death of 1,200 Israelis and injuries to about 5,400 others; 255 others were abducted and taken as hostages into Gaza.
82. The Committee further condemns the decision taken by the Israeli security cabinet on 8 August 2025 to take security control over the Gaza Strip, starting from Gaza City, which would include the establishment of an alternative civilian administration. The Committee calls for the reversal of the decision and for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access, strict adherence to international humanitarian law to protect civilians, the release of hostages and prisoners, and an independent investigation into all human rights violations and war crimes perpetrated.
83. The Committee stresses that in its ongoing aggression in Gaza, Israel has consistently failed to distinguish between civilians and combatants, as well as civilian and military objects, and has systematically breached its obligations as an occupying Power under the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Attacks on densely populated areas, hospitals, places of worship, schools and United Nations premises constitute war crimes and must cease forthwith, and there must be accountability for all such grave breaches. The Committee urges full adherence by all parties to their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, as well as General Assembly resolutions ES-10/21, ES-10/22, ES‑10/24 and ES-10/25, Security Council resolutions 2712 (2023), 2720 (2023), 2728 (2024) and 2735 (2024) and Human Rights Council resolutions 58/2, 58/26, 58/27, and 58/28.
84. The Committee is alarmed by the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the military campaign of Israel, which has resulted in multiple displacements of the entire population of Gaza and over 1.1 million Palestinians facing famine, with children and babies constituting those mostly severely affected. It urges Member States to pressure Israel to lift the blockade and allow safe unimpeded access for United Nations agencies, including UNRWA, and international aid organizations delivering food, water, medicine, fuel and other supplies essential for the survival of Palestinians and to stop any actions aimed at obstructing aid to the Palestinian people.
85. The Committee urges the international community to protect the Palestinian civilian population, including by providing adequate shelter for displaced populations and meeting fundamental humanitarian and hygiene needs. The Committee strongly condemns the invasion and attacks by Israel on the last remaining refuge centres for displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including repeated attacks on UNRWA facilities sheltering the displaced and refugee camps across Gaza. It deplores Israeli evacuation orders that continue to inflict displacement and trauma on Palestinians who are being forced to flee repeatedly to “safe zones” that are not safe.
86. The Committee demands action to address war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Gaza, including by investigating the weaponization of starvation as a method of warfare and other actions prohibited under international law. The Committee also denounces the Israeli military offensives aimed at obstructing humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, who, after enduring months of bombings, forced displacement, disease and hunger continue to endure collective punishment, potentially involving acts of genocide. It opposes the distribution of aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which does not adhere to the humanitarian principles of impartiality, neutrality and independence and urges the resumption of well-established United Nations-led aid distribution.
87. The Committee demands enhanced safety for aid and medical workers by requiring Israel to ensure the protection of humanitarian personnel, including UNRWA staff, and to facilitate continuous aid delivery in accordance with its international humanitarian law obligations as an occupying Power.
88. The Committee condemns escalating settler violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which risks further destabilizing the area. It calls for an immediate end to the excessive use of lethal force by Israeli forces and armed settlers against Palestinian civilians, including children, which has risen to alarming levels in 2025.
89. The Committee condemns the expansion of illegal settlements and outposts and the continued suffering and dispossession of Palestinian communities, who face an ongoing Nakbah, driven by Israeli State policy and acts of terror by extremists. The Committee calls upon Israeli government officials to halt their provocations, rhetoric and incitement in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

B. Action by the Committee in response to human rights violations

90. The Committee condemns the recurring human rights violations committed by Israel, the occupying Power, against the Palestinian civilian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as amply documented by international organizations, including the United Nations and its human rights mechanisms, as well as human rights organizations, including organizations from Israel.
91. The Committee calls upon Israel to immediately cease and reverse its punitive measures against the Palestinian Authority, disarm Israeli settlers and immediately stop settler violence and all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and provide protection to Palestinian civilians, as called for in Security Council resolution 904 (1994) and General Assembly resolution ES-10/20 and in line with its obligations under international humanitarian law. The Committee encourages OHCHR to continue to update the database of business enterprises engaged in certain activities in relation to illegal Israeli settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
92. The Committee calls upon the United Nations and the international community to take immediate measures to ensure accountability in response to the failure of Israel to abide by its responsibility to investigate and prosecute acts committed by its agents or third parties that involve grave breaches of international humanitarian law and gross violations of the human rights of Palestinians. The Committee commends the Member States that have imposed sanctions against Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinians and measures to halt arms transfers to Israel and urges other Member States to act accordingly to ensure accountability.
93. The Committee urges Israel to adhere to its obligations under international law and to fully respect the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem, including the Aqsa Mosque compound, and to acknowledge the special role of Jordan as custodian of the compound. It condemns the attempts by Israel to change the historic and legal status of the holy sites and East Jerusalem, as well as to alter the demographic composition and character of East Jerusalem, in violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
94. The Committee commends the Secretary-General and the relevant humanitarian mechanisms for their response to the continued and escalating aggression and violence of Israel, including in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It underscores the seriousness of the information contained in the 2025 report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (A/79/878-S/2025/247) regarding the highest number of grave violations ever verified in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the majority of which are against Palestinian children, and the listing of the Israel Defense Forces and armed Palestinian groups for violations.
95. The Committee is deeply worried by the report of OHCHR dated 25 May 2025 indicating that thousands of Palestinians have been detained in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel since October 2023, in violation of international law. The Committee strongly condemns the deaths, disappearances, torture, sexual violence and inhumane treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, including men, women and children. It also deplores the actions of Israeli extremists who advocate for the right to rape Palestinian prisoners.
96. The Committee condemns the systematic killing and silencing by Israeli forces of Palestinian journalists and media professionals in Gaza and the West Bank, who are central to exposing the atrocities, violations and acts of genocide being perpetrated in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
97. The Committee reiterates its support for the order indicating provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice in response to the application by South Africa, in which the Court indicated that Israel should take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of article II of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The Committee demands that Israel ensure that its forces do not commit further genocidal acts.
98. The Committee welcomes the issuance by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court of arrest warrants aimed at holding Israeli leaders and Palestinian armed group leaders accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity for their actions in the Gaza conflict and renews its call upon the International Criminal Court to proceed swiftly with its investigation into the situation in the State of Palestine to ensure accountability.

C. Action by the Committee in response to annexation and settlement activities

99. The Committee reiterates its call upon the General Assembly and the Security Council to urgently implement the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024, including through the adoption of the modalities required to bring to an end the unlawful Israeli occupation. In addition, Member States must refrain from recognizing the unlawful presence of Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and from actions that aid or assist Israel in sustaining that presence.
100. The Committee reiterates that the annexation of any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, is illegal and that Gaza is an integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It calls upon Israel to cease all actions aimed at changing the demographic composition, status and character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to abide by its international legal obligations. Such illegal colonization measures violate the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian people and undermine the prospect of achieving a two-State solution by systematically eroding a contiguous, independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian State, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem serving as its capital, in accordance with international law, the pertinent United Nations resolutions, including Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) and General Assembly resolution 77/26, as well as the Madrid terms of reference and the Arab Peace Initiative.
101. The Committee is gravely concerned at the ongoing actions of the Government of Israel, which is dramatically increasing the number of settlers in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and is openly referring to the occupied territory as sovereign Israeli territory, contrary to international law and countless United Nations resolutions. The Committee supports the demands made by the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council for the cessation of all such illegal activities, including the expropriation and seizing of Palestinian land, the demolition of property, including of donor-funded structures, and calls for an end to all forced evictions and forcible displacement of Palestinians.
102. The Committee concurs with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel that discrimination against Palestinians and the ongoing occupation and associated abuses, such as unlawful killings, forced displacement and denial of rights, resemble apartheid and are primary causes of the conflict. The Committee calls for urgent action to safeguard Palestinian human rights and condemns political attacks on the Special Rapporteurs and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which undermine their efforts to document abuses, advocate for Palestinian rights and promote accountability.

D. Action with the Secretary-General, the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court

103. The Committee welcomes the stance of the Secretary-General, which is based on international law and numerous United Nations resolutions, including his calls to pursue a just resolution to the question of Palestine and reach a ceasefire in Gaza.
104. The Committee urges the Security Council and the General Assembly to ensure the speedy implementation of the long-standing parameters for a just peace affirmed in relevant United Nations resolutions, including Council resolution 2334 (2016) and Assembly resolution 77/25.
105. The Committee requests the Secretary-General to continue to submit his reports to the Security Council on the implementation of resolutions 2334 (2016), 2728 (2024) and 2735 (2024) in written format. Pursuant to those resolutions, the Committee also calls upon the Council to examine practical ways and means to secure the full implementation of relevant resolutions, including the use of sanctions against the occupying Power and private entities violating Council resolutions, including with regard to the transfer of arms.
106. The Committee calls upon the Security Council to demand the immediate implementation of a ceasefire and an immediate halt to Israeli military actions in accordance with resolution 2735 (2024).
107. The Committee joins the call for the deployment of a temporary international stabilization force upon invitation by the Palestinian Authority and under the aegis of the United Nations to provide protection to the Palestinian civilian population. It further calls upon the Security Council to act urgently to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza and a just and peaceful resolution to the conflict. It acknowledges efforts by States, including Egypt, Qatar and the United States, to broker a ceasefire and the release of hostages and detainees and urges the completion of these efforts to stop the suffering in Gaza.
108. The Committee notes that any initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict in Gaza and ending the prolonged Israeli occupation with a view to achieving a just solution to the question of Palestine must, first and foremost, consider the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people, engage the Palestinian leadership and be based on the two-State solution, in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions.
109. The Committee commends the ongoing efforts of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court in upholding international law in matters related to the question of Palestine, which are crucial for ensuring accountability, justice and the protection of Palestinian rights.

E. Advocacy and outreach with the international community and civil society

110. The Committee fully supports the ongoing efforts by Member States, as well as the Secretary-General, to promote calm and a just and lasting resolution to the question of Palestine.
111. The Committee recognizes the crucial role of global civil society in advocating for Palestinian rights and an end to the immense suffering in Gaza, and in urging Member States to heed the demands of the public and take decisive action in line with their international legal obligations. It condemns the threats made by Israel against civil society organizations and NGOs delivering aid in Gaza. It calls upon Israel to reverse policies that restrict access for civil society organizations and hamper their vital work, and to ensure safe access for humanitarian workers.

F. Action by Member States and regional organizations

112. The Committee reiterates its call upon Member States and regional organizations to act, collectively and individually, in line with international law to pressure Israel, the occupying Power, to fulfil its responsibilities to safeguard Palestinian civilians under international law, stop its assault on Gaza and violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and end its unlawful occupation as rapidly as possible. It further notes that any comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian question will require a regional approach, such as that set out in the Arab Peace Initiative.
113. The Committee considers unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and embassy relocations there as invalid, as they violate Security Council resolutions 476 (1980), 478 (1980) and 2334 (2016), and commends those who have reversed such recognition, recalling the affirmations in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on this matter.
114. The Committee welcomes the holding of the High-level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia in New York, from 28 to 30 July. It endorses the calls in the New York Declaration for on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution (A/CONF.243/2025/1), which are in line with those contained in General Assembly resolutions ES-10/23 (2024) and ES-10/24, Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) and other relevant resolutions, reaffirming the Palestinian right to self-determination. It further welcomes the recent announcements by States that they will recognize the State of Palestine and urges those yet to do so to take decisive action in that regard. The Committee further urges the Security Council to recommend admission of the State of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations, aligning with this broad international consensus and the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.
115. The Committee welcomes the outcomes of Cairo Ministerial Conference to Enhance the Humanitarian Response in Gaza, held in Cairo on 2 December 2024, and calls for international support to implement the LAS plan for the early recovery, reconstruction and development of Gaza, while ensuring that Palestinian civilians remain in their land, by facilitating the rapid provision of essential needs and basic services, including healthcare, and expanding social protections against food insecurity. The Committee urges the international community to actively participate in the conference that the Government of Egypt intends to host in order to mobilize political and financial support for the plan and commends Egypt on its role in alleviating the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
116. The Committee reaffirms its strong support for UNRWA and its indispensable role in providing services to millions of Palestine refugees. The Committee demands that Israel reverse its classification of UNRWA as a terrorist organization and stop its campaign to delegitimize the Agency and obstruct its operations, which is undermining the Agency’s crucial humanitarian efforts in Gaza and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in the other fields of operation in Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic. The Committee urges continued political support for the mandate of UNRWA and urges donors to increase funding, emphasizing the Agency’s accountability and its critical role.
117. The Committee calls upon Member States to support the fiscal stability of the Government of the State of Palestine, strengthen Palestinian institutions and improve the economic and social conditions in the State of Palestine, especially during this time of suffering and deprivation due to the actions of Israel.

G. Action by the Secretariat and other United Nations entities

118. The Committee conveys its gratitude to the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs for its support for the implementation of the Committee’s mandate. It stresses the crucial work conducted by the Division in providing secretariat support across all aspects of its General Assembly mandate and in facilitating synergy, collaboration and cooperation with United Nations entities working on the question of Palestine. The Committee expresses its appreciation for the Division’s support for and adaptation of its strategic communications and outreach tools, including its multilingual website and social media and audiovisual content, with a view to aiding the Committee’s advocacy and awareness-raising efforts on the question of Palestine.
119. The Committee encourages enhanced collaboration with the Department of Global Communications on its special information programme on the question of Palestine, with a view to ensuring broader outreach.
120. The Committee also welcomes continuous improvements to targeted capacity-development projects for Palestinian officials in order to promote inclusivity, gender balance and South-South cooperation.

        [1]  Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), Application instituting proceedings containing a request for the indication of provisional measures, filed 29 December 2023, I.C.J. Reports 2023.

        [2]  United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Security Council briefing by Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, on the Middle East”, 16 July 2025.

        [3]  United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Reported impact snapshot, Gaza Strip”, 13 August 2025.

        [4]  UNRWA, “Joint statement by OCHA, OHCHR, UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS, UNRWA, WFP and WHO on fuel shortage in Gaza”, 12 July 2025.

        [5]  United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, “This is not a ceasefire – it’s a slowing of Israel’s genocide and starvation campaign says UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food”, 5 February 2025.

        [6]  United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “OCHA update: civilians in Gaza face deadly violence, starvation as critical supplies run low”, 7 July 2025.

        [7]  United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Humanitarian situation update #302-Gaza Strip”, 2 July 2025.

        [8]  United Nations News, “Gaza: Guterres urges probe into killing of journalists, as child malnutrition deaths rise”, 11 August 2025.

        [9]  UNRWA, “Large-scale forced displacement in the West Bank impacts 40,000 people”, 10 February 2025.

      [10]  UNRWA, “Caux Democracy Forum Keynote address by Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA”, 8 July 2025.

      [11]  United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Breakdown of data on demolition and displacement in the West Bank”, 26 August 2025. Available at www.ochaopt.org/data/demolition.

      [12]  The Hague Group, “States announce unprecedented measures to halt the Gaza genocide at Bogotá conference”, 16 July 2025. Available at https://thehaguegroup.org/meetings-bogota-en/.

      [13]  Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, “Note to correspondents: on Gaza”, 24 March 2025.

      [14]  UNRWA, “UNRWA Commissioner-General on Gaza: the humanitarian community calls for an end to the so-called ‘Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’”, 1 July 2025. See also Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, “Humanitarian principles”, 14 March 2025, available at https://emergency.unhcr.org/protection/protection-principles/humanitarian-principles.

      [15]  OHCHR, “Killings of Palestinians seeking food in Gaza continue as starvation deepens”, 31 July 2025.

      [16]  Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, “600 days of Israeli war on Gaza: UN Committee urges immediate, unhindered humanitarian access”, 30 May 2025.

      [17]  United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Briefing to journalists by Jonathan Whittall, Head of OCHA OPT”, 28 May 2025.

      [18]  Available at www.un.org/unispal/document/a-hrc-59-23-from-economy-of-occupation-to-economy-of-genocide-report-special-rapporteur-francesca-albanese-palestine-2025/.

      [19]  United Nations, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, “ASG Khaled Khiari updates Security Council on Gaza crisis, urges ceasefire and respect for international law”, 30 June 2025.

      [20]  UN News, “UN chief: Israeli-Palestinian conflict at ‘breaking point’, urges push for two-State solution”, 28 July 2025.

      [21]  United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, available at www.un.org/unispal.

      [22]  Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, “Committee Bureau welcomes historic resolution calling for an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine”, 18 September 2024.

      [23]  Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, “UN Palestinian Rights Committee Bureau: Knesset’s decision to ban UNRWA is as unlawful as the occupation itself”, 31 October 2024.

      [24]  Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, “UN Palestinian Rights Committee Bureau welcomes historic resolution requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, rejects actions that obstruct aid”, 20 December 2024.

      [25]  Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, “UN Palestinian Rights Committee Bureau welcomes Gaza ceasefire, demands full implementation and move towards a solution of the conflict, and condemns Israel’s UNRWA ban perpetuating Palestinian suffering”, 31 January 2025.

      [26]  Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, “Two months under siege: UN Palestinian Rights Committee Bureau demands immediate lifting of Gaza blockade and welcomes ongoing ICJ proceedings”, 6 May 2025.

      [27]  Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, “600 days of Israeli war on Gaza: UN Committee urges immediate, unhindered humanitarian access”, 30 May 2025.

      [28]  See https://www.un.org/unispal/document-category/ceirpp-newsletter/.

      [29]  Available at https://www.un.org/unispal/2024-solidarity-day/.

      [30]  Available at https://www.un-ilibrary.org/.