UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Wednesday that escalating hostilities risk a full resumption of conflict across the Middle East, urging the Security Council to support an end to Israeli occupation and a two-state solution as the only path to lasting peace.
Guterres Addresses Security Council
The Middle East is being pulled deeper into crisis, and the consequences reach far beyond the region, Guterres said at the Council's high-level open debate on advancing political solutions in the Middle East. He expressed profound concern that wider attacks and further deterioration this week could trigger a full resumption of conflict.
Call for Two-State Solution
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has gone unresolved for decades, Guterres stated, emphasizing that it is time to get serious about the only credible way forward: an end to the occupation and a two-state solution. He warned that delay and denial only perpetuate injustice, fueling extremism in the region and further afield.
Situation in Gaza
In the Gaza Strip, Guterres described the situation as rapidly deteriorating, noting that Israel has declared its intent to seize 70% of the territory. He urged full implementation of a plan facilitated by the US, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye, stressing that humanitarian aid must never be used as a bargaining chip.
West Bank and Regional Risks
Turning to the occupied West Bank, Guterres cited alarming reports of Israeli occupier violence averaging six attacks per day. He warned that any attempted annexation would have no legal validity, just as the decades-long occupation has none. He also noted that a ceasefire in the Persian Gulf was more like a lesser fire, cautioning that restrictions on navigation near the Strait of Hormuz were generating global hardship.
Syria and Conclusion
Guterres flagged risks to Syria's fragile peace, noting that consolidation requires respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He urged the Council to put its full weight behind the two-state solution, calling it the key to a just and lasting peace in the region.
