In the Middle East crisis, the United Nations Security Council faced skepticism from Palestinians and many others who had hoped it would safeguard peace and security. In a conversation with RIA News, the Palestine mission to the United Nations, represented in New York by Riyad Mansour, shared his assessment of the council’s role and effectiveness in pursuing a resolution to the conflict.
Riyad Mansour outlined a critical view of how the Security Council members have contributed to addressing the escalations. His remarks reflect a broader sense among Palestinians and allied observers that the council has often fallen short of delivering timely, decisive pressure or formal mechanisms to halt hostilities and protect civilians amid rapid developments on the ground.
Since October 7, the security situation in the region deteriorated sharply as thousands of militants linked to Hamas crossed into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. The unfolding events led to the capture of a significant number of hostages and a rapid spike in military activity, intensifying a humanitarian and strategic crisis that has drawn widespread international concern.
Hamas announced a major offensive, accompanied by widespread rocket attacks against urban centers in Israel. In response, the Israeli government declared that the country was at war, signaling a full-scale security mobilization aimed at countering the threat and restoring security for its citizens. The scale and speed of these actions underscored the high stakes and the tremendous pressures facing both sides as the conflict expanded into new phases.
The Israel Defense Forces launched a broad operation named Iron Swords with the objective of degrading the militant network and reducing the capacity of armed groups operating in Gaza. The campaign involved comprehensive airstrikes against a wide array of targets tied to Hamas, including command and control sites, weapons storage facilities, and infrastructure used to sustain the militants’ activities. In parallel, Israel’s National Security Council considered steps to limit external support by curtailing the flow of essential supplies into the Gaza Strip, an approach that has intensified the humanitarian impacts on the civilian population as the blockade disrupts water, electricity, food, and medical access for residents.
On October 13, officials reported that a significant number of Palestinians, potentially as high as one million, had to be relocated to southern Gaza within a short time frame in the context of a possible ground offensive. The decision highlighted the dire need for safe corridors and humanitarian protections for civilians amid ongoing military operations and shifting frontlines. International authorities stressed the importance of adherence to humanitarian law and the protection of noncombatants in all actions related to the conflict, with calls for immediate, verifiable measures to minimize civilian harm.
Earlier statements from Hamas suggested a willingness to consider exchanges of hostages under certain conditions, a stance that has influenced negotiations and international diplomacy during the crisis. Analysts note that such conditional positions often affect the timing and feasibility of any potential hostages’ release, underscoring the complexity of achieving humanitarian priorities alongside strategic objectives in a volatile security environment.
As the humanitarian situation evolves, international organizations have urged restraint, proportional responses, and renewed efforts to secure civilian protection, civilian aid corridors, and access to essential services. Policy makers and observers alike are analyzing the prospects for renewed diplomacy, the role of regional actors, and the potential for future agreement frameworks that could establish mechanisms for monitoring ceasefires, accountability, and sustained humanitarian relief whenever feasible. The unfolding events continue to challenge regional stability and demand continuous, coordinated international attention to prevent further deterioration and to safeguard civilians caught in the crossfire. [UN, 2024-2025 updates] [RIA News] [Security Council reports]