New York: Addressing the high-level conference on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-State solution, Mr. Guterres delivered a stark message about the urgency of action and the cost of delay. For decades, Middle East diplomacy has been far more process than peace, he said. Words, speeches, declarations may not have much meaning to those on the ground. They have seen it before. They have heard it before. Meanwhile, destruction and annexation bulldoze ahead.
According to EMM, Mr. Guterres questioned the alternative to a two-State solution, highlighting the grim reality of a one-State situation where Palestinians face inequality and expulsion from their land. He emphasized that such a scenario is neither peace nor justice. In his earlier remarks during the pre-opening session of the conference, Mr. Guterres warned that the conflict had reached a breaking point, defying hopes, diplomacy, resolutions, and international law.
The three-day conference, mandated by the General Assembly through resolutions ES-10/24 and 79/81 and co-organized by France and Saudi Arabia, brings together Member States, observers, and regional stakeholders. It features plenary discussions and thematic roundtables on issues ranging from security arrangements and humanitarian response to reconstruction and economic viability.
In his opening address, the Secretary-General stressed the need for swift action. He laid out a list of required steps: an immediate end to violence, annexation, and settlement activity; rejection of forced displacement; accountability for violations of international law; and a recommitment to a credible political dialogue rooted in the equal rights and dignity of both peoples.
Turning to the war in Gaza, Mr. Guterres reiterated his condemnation of Hamas's 7 October 2023 terror attacks on Israel, while highlighting the unprecedented destruction that followed. He called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and unfettered humanitarian access, describing these as foundational to peace.
The Secretary-General urged all parties to choose peace not as an aspiration, but as a duty. He emphasized that the conflict cannot be managed but must be resolved through proactive efforts to create the conditions for peace. UN General Assembly President Philémon Yang echoed these sentiments, highlighting the urgent need for decisive change to avoid further suffering and the destruction of hopes for peace.
Mr. Yang concluded by urging action towards a peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing the importance of concrete and action-oriented steps by the international community to realize the two-State solution, uphold international law, and ensure a peaceful, prosperous, and equitable future for everyone in the Middle East.
