UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reiterated the international community’s responsibility to urgently pursue a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, stressing that the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the West Bank makes this pursuit more pressing than ever, as the death toll continues to rise and the risk of famine deepens.
His comments come as global momentum builds toward a high-level conference on Palestine scheduled to take place from 17 to 20 June at the UN headquarters in New York, where Saudi Arabia and France will co-chair deliberations aimed at advancing concrete steps toward implementing the long-stalled two-state framework, Arab News reported.
The event is being positioned not as a symbolic gesture but as a pivotal diplomatic moment, with calls for substantial action rather than renewed declarations.
This initiative gained further traction as Gaza faced an intensified Israeli offensive following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement in March 2024, with Israel continuing to restrict the flow of humanitarian aid and escalate military operations.
These developments have resulted in the deaths of over 53,000 Palestinians since October 2023, triggered by a Hamas-led assault that left 1,200 Israelis dead. The ongoing military campaign has devastated civilian infrastructure, displaced hundreds of thousands, and left vast areas of Gaza teetering on the brink of famine, according to data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system.
Guterres, reflecting on these developments, questioned the feasibility of any alternative to the two-state solution, warning that the failure to secure such an outcome could mean the continued denial of Palestinian rights or their displacement, both of which are unacceptable to the global conscience. The Secretary-General urged world powers to do all they can to ensure that the vision of two states living side by side in peace is kept alive and translated into reality.
As the humanitarian crisis worsens, Arab nations have expressed frustration with the pace of international diplomacy and urged that the upcoming summit move beyond declarations to achieve meaningful commitments, including the formal recognition of Palestinian statehood. Saudi Arabia, addressing the General Assembly in preparation for the forum, emphasised that recognising Palestine is a prerequisite for any lasting peace in the region and forms the foundation for mutual recognition and coexistence.
Amid these efforts, Guterres also led a solemn tribute to 168 UN staff members killed in 2024, of whom 126 were aid workers in Gaza affiliated with the UN Relief and Works Agency. He highlighted that 2024 has become the deadliest year in the history of the UN for its staff, many of whom were killed while delivering aid, protecting civilians, or sheltering with their families during bombardments.
Condemning the growing culture of impunity in conflict zones, Guterres warned against normalising the killing of humanitarian personnel, civilians, journalists and medical workers, while reaffirming the UN’s commitment to uphold its core principles even amidst global instability.