UN experts reject 'Peace Council' in Gaza, affirm: Reconstruction is an exclusive Palestinian right

A group of UN experts affirmed in a joint statement that the reconstruction process of the Gaza Strip must be managed entirely in accordance with the principles of international law and universal human rights standards. The experts stressed the necessity of moving away from what they described as 'neo-colonial' interests, emphasizing that the Palestinian people's right to self-determination is an inherent and inalienable right under any circumstances.

The statement strongly criticized the so-called 'Peace Council' established by the UN Security Council, considering it an illegitimate maneuver backed by influential international powers driven by special agendas. The experts explained that this council starkly contradicts the right to self-determination and the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, thereby entrenching a colonial approach to dealing with the future of the devastated Strip.

The experts warned against treating the Gaza Strip as a 'real estate opportunity' or a arena for commercial speculation, calling on world leaders to view the Strip as a homeland destroyed by war. They pointed out that the residents have the full right to rebuild their lives on their land, with the guarantee of safe and voluntary return for all displaced persons and refugees to their properties from which they were forcibly expelled.

According to estimates provided by the experts, the scale of destruction in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with approximately 92% of housing units damaged or destroyed by October 2025. An analysis by the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing concluded that Israeli practices of systematic destruction of homes amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, reaching the threshold of genocide.

This stance coincided with the publication of draft guiding principles by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which affirm the right of conflict-affected peoples to receive compensation and reparations. The draft clarified that this right includes the restoration of all economic, social, and political rights, ensuring that residents are empowered to lead the reconstruction process and benefit directly from it without external guardianship.

The experts held Israel, as the aggressor and occupying power, primarily responsible for funding and rebuilding what its military machine destroyed. The responsibility also extended to states that provided military support to the occupation during its campaign. They affirmed that securing funding and ensuring unimpeded entry of necessary construction materials and machinery is an international obligation that must be fulfilled to restore health, educational, and religious facilities.

In conclusion of their statement, the experts, including Francesca Albanese and Balakrishnan Rajagopal, stressed that no reconstruction path would be sustainable without clear preconditions. These conditions include achieving a permanent ceasefire, a complete end to the Israeli occupation, and providing genuine international guarantees against the recurrence of these crimes and violations against the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian right to self-determination is inalienable, and decisions regarding reconstruction and the future of Gaza must be in their hands alone.