Hanoi (VNA) – The United NationsSecurity Council (UNSC) held a videoconference on March 25 to look into thesituation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue.

Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for theMiddle East Peace Process, said there remain concerns about the implementationof the council’s Resolution 2334 as Israel has continued expanding Jewishsettlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in the places thatmay partition the territory of the Palestinian State in the future.

Besides, Israel has continued to demolishPalestinian homes, leaving 465 people, mostly women and children, homelesswhile violence among parties has been causing heavy civilian casualties, hesaid, noting that all of these activities have violated UN resolutions andinternational law.

At the event, held every three months to discussthe Resolution 2334 implementation, many UNSC member states also voiced seriousconcern over the enforcement situation of Resolution 2334, as well as Israel’ssettlement expansion and demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupiedterritories.

They called on the relevant parties to complywith UN resolutions, put an end to violent acts, protect civilians, and facilitatenegotiations.

Some countries welcomed recent activities of theMiddle East Quartet and appealed for humanitarian aid and assistance forcivilians.

In his remarks, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, PermanentRepresentative of Vietnam to the UN, expressed concern about the developmentsat the site, especially when the Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bankshows no signs of ceasing.

He held that these activities, together with aseries of others impeding the life of Palestinians such as demolitions, willincrease differences among parties, hamper the resumption of talks, and narrowopportunities to obtain lasting and sustainable solutions to the Palestinianissue.

Regarding the Middle East Peace Process, Vietnamwelcomes and supports all the initiatives and efforts that can help promotethis process, he noted, adding that the country calls on the parties toexercise self-restraint and not take actions or make any statements that mayfurther complicate the situation.

In terms of the coming elections in Palestine,Quy urged the parties concerned to create favourable conditions for theelections in all areas, including East Jerusalem.

The diplomat also highlighted Vietnam’s strongsupport for UN agencies, especially the UN Relief and Works Agency, to providehumanitarian aid for people in distress, and that Vietnam calls on all partiesto continue facilitating humanitarian assistance and vaccine transportation anddistribution in the time ahead./.