Palestinian representative urges U.N. Security Council to extend Gaza ceasefire to West Bank, calls for Israeli withdrawal

A Palestinian delegation representative told members of the United Nations Security Council that Palestinian leadership had requested an urgent Security Council meeting and urged the council to press for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from West Bank cities and refugee camps.

The representative said Palestinian officials sent a letter and held consultations with Security Council members before the meeting and asked that the ceasefire agreement that applies to the Gaza Strip be extended to cover the West Bank. The speaker singled out bombardment and property destruction in the refugee camp in Tulkarem as a particular concern.

"We condemn this aggression against our people in the West Bank," the representative said. "We demand an immediate ceasefire and cessation of these attacks and the bombardment and the destruction of properties, particularly in the refugee camp in Tulkarem. And we want the Israeli forces to withdraw." The speaker said the Palestinian leadership provided copies of its letter to Security Council members and had met with the council president the previous day.

The representative said the meeting was called after consultations: "And after extensive consultations with members of the Security Council, it was decided that this meeting will be taking place in a few minutes." The speaker also said briefers, including Sigrid Kaag, were expected to outline details of events on the ground for council members.

Asked about recent reports of communications involving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other governments, the representative described media reports that a "committee of six" had sent letters to the U.S. administration. The speaker said a second letter had, according to media reports, been sent to Rubio and that there were ongoing efforts related to those communications.

The representative repeated Palestinian and wider Arab and Muslim demands that the ceasefire be permanent and fully implemented in all stages and elements, and urged the Security Council to use its authority to stop the reported aggression and secure implementation of ceasefire provisions across all occupied areas.

The representative said the council would debate the matter and that members and the public would be informed of the meeting's outcome. "We want a permanent cease fire, and we want all the provisions to be implemented," the speaker said.

No formal vote or Security Council decision was recorded in the remarks transcribed; the speaker described steps taken by Palestinian leadership to request the meeting and asked the council to act.