United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said that Israel’s repeated rejection of a two-state solution is “unacceptable” and called for the entry of aid to the residents of Gaza, describing the humanitarian situation there as appalling.
Guterres added at a session of the United Nations Security Council that “what we heard last week of explicit and repeated rejection of the two-state solution at the highest levels of the Israeli government is unacceptable.”
The Secretary-General added that this rejection and denial of the right of the Palestinian people – to have a state – would indefinitely prolong a conflict that has become a serious threat to international peace and security.
Guterres stressed that this would “exacerbate polarization and encourage extremists everywhere.”
He said, “Everyone must recognize the right of the Palestinian people to build their completely independent state,” and pointed out that “any rejection by any party of the two-state solution must be firmly rejected,” explaining, “It is the only way to achieve a lasting and just peace in Israel, Palestine, and the entire region.”
Israel refuses to discuss a “two-state solution” in a position that angers the international community, and last week its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to any “Palestinian sovereignty.”
Netanyahu had stressed that “Israel must maintain security control” over Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
“Horrible” situation
Also in this context, Guterres described the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip as horrific, and said that all residents of the Strip are facing destruction on a scale and speed unprecedented in modern history.
He pointed out that 2.3 million Palestinians are struggling to survive in inhumane and miserable conditions during the winter months, without shelter, heating, cleaning materials, food and water. He called for the permanent delivery of aid through more than one crossing, noting that Israel has prevented most humanitarian aid operations towards northern Gaza.
The UN Secretary-General warned that Gaza residents not only face the risk of being killed or injured due to the continuing bombardment, but they also face an increased chance of contracting infectious diseases such as hepatitis A, dysentery and cholera.
Guterres continued: At the same time, I reiterate that all violations of international humanitarian law must end.
As of Tuesday, the Israeli war on Gaza left 25,490 martyrs and 63,354 injured, most of them children and women, according to the Palestinian authorities. It also caused massive material destruction and the displacement of about 1.9 million Palestinians, or more than 85% of the population, according to the United Nations.