UN Secretary-General António Guterres called upon global leaders on Tuesday to oppose any rejection of a two-state solution in Palestine during an urgent UN Security Council meeting in New York.
He reiterated his plea for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine conflict, stating, ‘I renew my appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,’ and emphasized that ‘nothing can justify the collective punishment’ of the Palestinian people.
Speaking to ambassadors and foreign ministers, Mr Guterres underscored that any rejection of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict
‘must be firmly rejected.’
The meeting, convened amid increasing international calls for a ceasefire, aimed to address the crisis in the Gaza Strip and the broader Middle East.
Over decades, the two-state solution has been traduced, undermined & left for dead many times.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) January 23, 2024
However, it remains the only way to achieve durable & equitable peace in Israel, in Palestine & in the region. pic.twitter.com/4pAdfF75Ui
Highlighting the urgency of an immediate ceasefire, he stated,
‘This will ensure sufficient aid gets to where it is needed, facilitate the release of hostages, and help lower tensions around the Middle East.’
He emphasized the importance of providing humanitarian aid to Gaza but warned that achieving this without a ceasefire is impossible, saying,
‘No effective humanitarian aid operation can function under the conditions forced on Palestinians in Gaza.’