Calling for an end to unlawful occupation, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that Palestine has the right to dignity, justice, self-determination, and statehood just like other nations.
“The Palestinian people have a right to dignity, to justice, and to self-determination. Yet over the last two years, these rights have been violated beyond comprehension. Gaza lies in ruins. Hunger, disease, and trauma run rampant. Schools, homes, and hospitals lie shattered. And tens of thousands of people—the majority women and children—have lost their lives,” he said.
Highlighting the adversities the people of Palestine have endured amidst Israeli military operations, he said, “The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) too remains a lifeline. A lifeline for millions of Palestinians. The international community must stand behind it in the occupied West Bank, in Gaza, and in its work with Palestinian refugees across the region.
“Statehood for the Palestinians is a right. I repeat my call for an end to the unlawful occupation of the Palestinian Territory—as affirmed by the International Court of Justice and the General Assembly—and for irreversible progress towards a two-state solution, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within their secure and recognized borders, on the basis of pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states,” he added.
Furthermore, he called for “irreversible progress towards a two-state solution, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within their secure and recognized borders, on the basis of pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.”
He urged all the parties to abide by the resolution in full and aim towards translating diplomatic momentum into “concrete and urgently needed progress on the ground.”
“To deliver justice for Palestine is to stand up for rights and laws everywhere. The United Nations will never waver in its commitment to the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination. I call on all governments, civil society, faith leaders, and ordinary citizens to raise their voices with us,” he added.
