UNITED NATIONS, Mar 25: Pakistan and seven other members of the UN Security Council Tuesday condemned “escalating” Israeli settlers’ attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank as “unacceptable,” and demanded accountability and the prosecution of perpetrators.

Delivering a part of the statement sponsored by Arab, OIC and European members of the 15-member Council, Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad reiterated their firm opposition to annexation of any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to any forcible displacement of the Palestinian people.

The part read out by the Pakistani envoy dealt with the rejection of annexation and forcible displacement of Palestinians and was on behalf of his country as also Bahrain, Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia Somalia and United Kingdom.

“We recall that the Security Council has condemned all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem. Such measures violate international law, undermine ongoing peace efforts, run counter to the Comprehensive plan and jeopardize the prospect of achieving just and lasting peace,” Ambassador Asim Ahmad said.

“The Council has also demanded that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal obligations in this regard, reaffirming its determination to examine practical ways and means to secure the full implementation of its relevant resolutions.

“This illegal settlement policy and Israeli settlers’ continuous and escalating attacks against the Palestinian civilian population, as well as the violence against Palestinian communities, including the recent killing of Palestinian children by Israeli forces, are unacceptable and must be brought to an immediate end and we call for those responsible to be held to account.”

The part on historic status quo (of Jerusalem), economic and humanitarian situation and New York declaration on ‘Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution’ was delivered by French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont.

“We also reaffirm the Council’s call for the preservation of the historic Status Quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem,” he said.

“We express our deep concern regarding the grave humanitarian and economic situation unfolding in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, notably due to the severe restrictions on movement and access and to the withholding of Palestinian tax revenues by Israel. We call for these matters to be addressed urgently,” the French envoy said.

“We reaffirm the collective commitment reflected in the New York Declaration to take concrete measures, in accordance with international law, and in line with the relevant UN resolutions and the 19 July 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, to help realize the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to counter policies and threats of forcible displacement and annexation throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

The part on ending occupation and two-State solution, with sovereign and independent Palestine, as only path to peace and security in the region delivered by Bahraini Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei.

“We reiterate our commitment towards achieving just and lasting peace on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative, ending the Israeli occupation and implementing the two-State solution, where two democratic States, an independent and sovereign Palestine and Israel, live side by side in peace and security within their secure and recognized borders on the basis of the 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, which remains the only viable path to ensure security, stability and sustainable peace in the region.”