Mr. Miroslav Jenca, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the United States, speaks at the meeting. (Source: Reuters)

At the Israel-requested meeting, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas Miroslav Jenca said the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories continues to deteriorate, requiring a political solution to the Gaza crisis to achieve long-term peace and stability for both peoples.

Jenca reported that since the renewed outbreak of conflict, over 60,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, with casualties continuing to mount daily. Citing the July 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN official said Israel is obligated to immediately halt all settlement expansion, evacuate settlers from occupied Palestinian territories, and end its unlawful presence there as soon as possible.

He also reaffirmed international law’s position that Gaza must be an integral part of a future Palestinian state.