United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed member states at the UN Headquarters, unequivocally stating that statehood for Palestinians is a right, not a reward. Guterres reaffirmed the United Nations’ dedication to a two-state solution as the primary pathway to resolve the enduring Israel-Gaza conflict. He highlighted the stagnation of dialogue and the disregard for resolutions that have characterized the conflict’s history. The Secretary-General underscored the UN’s long-held position on the two-state framework, advocating for two independent, sovereign, and democratic states—Israel and Palestine—living side by side in peace and security within mutually recognized borders based on the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, in accordance with international law, UN resolutions, and other relevant agreements. Guterres emphasized that denying Palestinian statehood would be a boon to extremists. He also called for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian access in the region, while condemning the October 7th attacks by Hamas, the taking of hostages, collective punishment of the Palestinian people, and any form of ethnic cleansing.
