Newsletter on UN Palestinian Rights Committee Activities – No. 25 / July – September 2025

1. 2025 Conference on the Question of Jerusalem takes place in Dakar, Senegal

On 9 July, the 2025 Conference on the Question of Jerusalem, organized jointly with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), took place in Dakar, Senegal. The meeting examined the challenges faced by Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem and the wider Occupied Palestinian Territory and provided a platform for updating and coordinating on the implementation of General Assembly resolution ES-10/24. Taking place ahead of the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, the Dakar meeting also served as an opportunity to consolidate preparatory steps, strengthen coordination between the Committee and OIC Member States, and hear perspectives from West Africa. 

2. UN Palestinian Rights Committee calls for urgent action at Security Council debate  

At the 23 July Security Council Open Debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, the Vice-Chair of the UN Palestinian Rights Committee, Permanent Representative of Nicaragua, H.E. Mr. Jaime Hermida Castillo, delivered a statement condemning Israel’s ongoing military assault and blockade of Gaza, which has led to unprecedented humanitarian devastation and the deliberate denial of aid. The Vice-Chair reiterated the call for an immediate, permanent, and internationally supervised ceasefire, full humanitarian access, and an end to all settlement activity and forced displacement. Stressing that “this is not just about Gaza – it is about the future of international law,” he urged the Security Council to uphold its responsibilities and advance a just and lasting peace. He also welcomed the renewed international momentum toward the two-State solution and called for the admission of the State of Palestine as a full UN Member. 

3. Bureau of UN Palestinian Rights Committee holds annual meeting with Secretary-General

The Committee Bureau held its annual meeting with the UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 26 August. During the meeting, the urgent need for an immediate end to the war in Gaza was discussed and the imperative of protecting civilians, as well as the importance of rapid, sustained, and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid was stressed.

The Bureau further underlined the need to ensure accountability for violations of international law, concrete measures to give effect to the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 advisory opinion and to implement General Assembly resolution ES-10/24 with a view to ending the illegal Israeli occupation. 

4. UN Palestinian Rights Committee Bureau calls for urgent action to end Gaza famine

On 27 August, the Bureau of the Committee issued a press release in response to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis confirming famine in Gaza Governorate. The Bureau condemned the deliberate use of starvation as a weapon, describing the crisis as a grave breach of international law. The statement called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, full and unhindered humanitarian access, rapid international mobilization of resources for food and medical care, and accountability for those obstructing aid. The Bureau also reiterated the need for urgent action by the International Court of Justice to address Israel’s obligations as the occupying Power. 

5. UN Palestinian Rights Committee Bureau denounces the E1 settlement plan and demands immediate halt of all illegal Israeli settlement activity 

On 28 August, the Bureau of the Committee issued a press release condemning the Israeli Government’s approval of the so-called E1 settlement plan in occupied East Jerusalem. The Bureau warned that the construction of more than 3,400 housing units in this strategic area would sever East Jerusalem from the West Bank, further fragment Palestinian communities, and endanger the viability of a future Palestinian State.

The Bureau called on Israel, the occupying Power, to immediately halt all settlement activity and annexation measures, reiterating that such actions constitute a grave breach of international law and violate UN Security Council resolution 2334 (2016). 

6. UN Palestinian Rights Committee hears briefings by the HLIC co-chairs and UNRWA, and adopts 2025 Annual Report 

On 28 August 2025, the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People held its 424th meeting at UN Headquarters in New York and adopted its Annual Report (A/80/35) for submission to the General Assembly. The report reflects recent developments, including settlement expansion, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and outcomes of the Cairo ministerial conference, and calls for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access.

The Committee also discussed the preliminary outcomes of the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held from 28 to 30 July 2025. The meeting featured briefings by the co-chairs of the High-Level International Conference, France and Saudi Arabia, who shared key takeaways aimed at reinvigorating international efforts toward a just and lasting peace. They urged Member States to rally behind the Conference’s outcome document and recognize the State of Palestine. The Director a.i. of the UNRWA Liaison Office in New York also briefed the Committee, warning of the catastrophic situation in Gaza and stressing the urgent need for sustained funding to avoid major service cuts in 2026. 

7. UN Committee on Palestinian Rights holds Committee Engagement with Civil Society

Following Bureau consultations on 9 September, on 10 September, the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People held a closed meeting with civil society representatives at UN Headquarters in New York. Participants received briefings from the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine and civil society representatives on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Discussions focused on accountability for violations of international law, the role of the United Nations in ending the occupation, and the upcoming 80th session of the General Assembly. 

8. Publications 

The Monthly Bulletins offer a collection of important actions and documents by the United Nations system and intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine. They are available on the UNISPAL website, the world’s largest online repository of documents on the issue. 

The weekly NGO Action News on recent and upcoming activities of Civil Society Organizations working on the question of Palestine are available on the UNISPAL website. The Committee provides the information “as is” without warranty and does not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy or reliability of the information contained in the websites linked in the newsletter.