United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said he is firmly opposed to Israeli actions he believes are undermining the two-state solution, while calling for a full ceasefire in Gaza and renewed efforts toward Palestinian statehood.
Speaking at his annual start-of-year press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Guterres said he was “determined” in defending a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He quoted French statesman Jean Monnet, saying he was neither optimistic nor pessimistic, but determined.
Guterres said he would strongly oppose what he described as efforts by Israel to weaken the viability of a Palestinian state, including settlement construction, demolitions, evictions, and settler violence in the West Bank. He added that such actions must stop.
Turning to Gaza, he emphasized the need for a new governance framework in the territory that would gradually be linked to the Palestinian Authority. He said Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem should ultimately form part of a future State of Palestine.
Violence in the West Bank has increased since the war in Gaza began in October
2023. According to Palestinian figures, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with thousands injured and tens of thousands detained during the same period.
ANews