In a passionate plea to the international community, Sigrid Kaag, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, has urged immediate and decisive action to support the people of Gaza in their journey toward recovery and resilience. Speaking before the UN Security Council, Kaag underscored the critical need to restore hope, rebuild communities, and create a sustainable future for Palestinian civilians who have endured immense hardship.
“The Middle East is experiencing a profound transformation—one that carries uncertainty but also the promise of historic change,” Kaag stated. “The people of this region deserve to emerge from this chapter with peace, security, and dignity. This moment may well be our final opportunity to realize the vision of a two-state solution.”
The devastation in Gaza is staggering. A recent joint assessment by the World Bank, the European Union, and the United Nations estimates that an astonishing $53 billion will be required to rebuild the shattered infrastructure and restore livelihoods. While humanitarian aid has been flowing in since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, Kaag stressed that short-term relief is not enough—long-term, sustainable reconstruction efforts must take center stage.
“The UN stands ready to lead and support these efforts,” she affirmed. “The people of Gaza must have the opportunity to reclaim their lives, rebuild their homes, and shape their future. Forced displacement cannot and must not be an option.”
Beyond Gaza, Kaag painted a troubling picture of escalating tensions in the West Bank. She warned that violence is rising, while Israeli plans for the construction of 2,000 new housing units signal an alarming acceleration of settlement expansion, evictions, and demolitions. These developments, she cautioned, threaten the very foundation of a viable Palestinian state.
“Unabated settlement expansion and calls for annexation pose an existential risk to the two-state solution,” she warned. “We must act now—decisively and collectively—to preserve the prospect of a just and lasting peace.”
With global attention fixed on Gaza, Kaag’s call to action resonates as a powerful reminder that peace is not merely an ideal—it is a responsibility. The world must rally to ensure that Palestinian civilians can rebuild not just their homes, but also their hopes, dreams, and a future free from conflict. Now is the time for bold leadership and unwavering commitment to justice, dignity, and peace.