Middle East Faces Most Dangerous Juncture in Decades, Declares UN Peace Coordinator.

New York: The Security Council convened its quarterly open debate on Tuesday concerning "the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question." The session, chaired by Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, featured a briefing by UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, who asserted, "We are at the most dangerous juncture in the Middle East in decades." According to Jordan News Agency, Wennesland reported his observations from a recent visit to Gaza, where he witnessed destruction that he described as unimaginable. He referred specifically to an Israeli airstrike on Beit Lahia, which resulted in the deaths of at least 60 Palestinians, including 25 children. Wennesland highlighted the urgent need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and an agreement on prisoner release, cautioning that without swift action, humanitarian aid efforts cannot scale up to address the dire needs of approximately two million displaced individuals in Gaza. Wennesland expressed significan t concern about the evolving situation, which he believes threatens to undermine the core principles of the peace process for years. He pointed out Israel's efforts to dismantle the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) as one of the issues exacerbating the situation. He reiterated that a two-state solution and the enforcement of international resolutions remain the only viable path to peace. The session saw participation from over 60 representatives of countries, committees, and regional organizations, including foreign ministers from Switzerland, Spain, Cuba, Brazil, and Guyana.