UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a dire warning during Tuesday's Security Council debate on the Middle East, declaring that the prospect of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine is nearing irreversibility. “The political commitment to this long-standing goal is farther than it has ever been,” he said, citing escalating violence, stalled negotiations, and humanitarian crises as existential threats to peace.
Guterres highlighted the compounding challenges since Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attacks, including Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, rising settler violence, and restrictions on aid delivery. He condemned attempts to weaponize humanitarian assistance, stressing: “There must be no hindrance in humanitarian aid” through critical channels like UNRWA.
The UN chief called for immediate action to prevent perpetual occupation, demanding a permanent ceasefire, hostage releases, and renewed political will. He urged member states to leverage their influence ahead of June’s France-Saudi Arabia co-chaired High-Level Conference, seen as a last-chance moment to revive international support for Palestinian statehood.
With Jerusalem’s status remaining a core sticking point, Guterres framed the crisis as both a regional stability issue and a global moral test: “Show the political courage to make good on this central question for peace for Palestinians, Israelis, the region, and humanity.”
