The high -level meeting attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs and senior officials, occurred in the midst of the intensification of Israel’s military operation to snatch the total control of the city of Gaza, the growing hunger and the growing international recognition of Palestinian status.
“The Israeli military attack in the city of Gaza is aggravating an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis,“Guterres said.
“Innumerable Palestinian civilians and the remaining hostages are trapped under a relentless and private bombardment of food, water, electricity and medicine. Hambruna is a reality.”
Respect international law
He repeated his appeals for a high immediate and permanent fire, the unconditional release of all hostages and humanitarian access without obstacles.
“UN resolutions continue to be ignored. International Humanitarian Law. Impunity prevails. And our collective credibility is being undermined,“He warned.
He also reiterated his call to a high immediate permanent fire, the unconditional release of all hostages; and humanitarian access without obstacles to all those in need in the strip.
Deep instability
The general secretary said that the conflict is extending beyond Gaza to the West Bank and the region in general, citing the Israeli strike against Qatar earlier this month as “not only a violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar”, but also a threat to “the same norms and mechanisms in which we trust for diplomacy and resolution of conflicts.”
“The efforts to ensure a high fire and hostage agreement, led by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, suffered a serious blow on September 9,“, Said.
Preserve the solution of two states
Returning to the political horizon, Mr. Guterres warned that the solution of two states is eroding amid the “implacable expansion of settlement. De facto annexation. Forced displacement,” he said.
“If it is implemented, the recent approval of Israel for the construction of settlements in the E1 area would cut the occupied West Bank, destroying the territorial contiguity of a Palestinian state,” he said.
He called Israeli settlements “a flagrant violation of international law” and urged more international support to stabilize the Palestinian authority, which he faces “an existential crisis” under fiscal and political pressure.
‘A ray of hope’
Even so, he pointed out a “brightness of hope” in the resumption of the International Conference on the solution of two states, co -presided by France and Saudi Arabia.
The recognition of Palestinian status by additional countries, including France and the United Kingdom, said, showed impulse that must be seized.
“A fair and lasting peace will never be built through more violence,“Mr. Guterres concluded.” It demands a collective commitment: diplomacy, international law, the dignity of all people. “