In a high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council regarding the Middle East region, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on Tuesday that it is “unacceptable” for the Israeli government to reject the two-state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians, warning that such a move “will embolden extremists everywhere.”
Guterres firmly stated, “The Israeli occupation must end.”
The concept of two states living side by side within secure and recognized borders has long been supported by the 15-member Council. Palestinians seek to establish a state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip, territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 war.
As the conflict in Gaza escalated between Israel and Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared last week that Israel needs security control over all lands west of the Jordan River, covering Palestinian territories, adding, “It goes against the principle of sovereignty, but what can you do?”
On October 7, Hamas fighters launched an attack on settlements near Gaza, prompting Israel to respond with airstrikes on Gaza and a ground assault. This has resulted in the death of over 25,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza.
Addressing the UN Security Council, Guterres stated, “The entire population of Gaza is suffering from destruction at a scale and pace unprecedented in recent history… There is nothing that can justify collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” as reported by Reuters.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki specifically criticized Netanyahu in his address to the Security Council, accusing him of being driven by one goal, which is his political survival at the expense of millions of Palestinians living under illegal Israeli occupation, jeopardizing peace and security for all.
