Palestinian Statehood Is a Right, Not a Privilege – UN Boss, Guterres
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged the international community to take swift and tangible action towards implementing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing that Palestinian statehood is a fundamental right—not a privilege.
In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), Guterres restated the UN’s long-standing stance that a viable and lasting peace can only be achieved through the establishment of two independent states—Israel and Palestine—living side by side in peace and security.
“Let’s be clear: Statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward. The only realistic, just, and sustainable solution is two States—Israel & Palestine—living side-by-side in peace. I urge the international community to take urgent & concrete steps to make it real,” he wrote.
Guterres’s statement followed his address at the opening of a high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, held at the UN Headquarters in New York. He warned that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has reached “a breaking point,” and cautioned that without decisive international intervention, the region risks descending into a “one-state reality marked by perpetual occupation and inequality.”
“For decades, Middle East diplomacy has been more process than peace,” Guterres told delegates. “Words, speeches, declarations may no longer carry meaning for those on the ground. They have seen it all before. Meanwhile, destruction and annexation bulldoze ahead.”
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Reaffirming the need for a political resolution rooted in international law, the UN Secretary-General stressed the importance of establishing two democratic and independent states with secure borders based on pre-1967 lines, and Jerusalem serving as the capital of both nations. He rejected any scenario that denies Palestinians their rights or forces them to live under indefinite displacement.
“That is not peace. That is not justice. And that is not acceptable,” he declared.
The three-day conference—mandated by the UN General Assembly and jointly organized by France and Saudi Arabia—brings together UN member states, observers, and regional stakeholders to engage in dialogue on critical issues including security, humanitarian aid, reconstruction, and economic recovery.
Guterres urged participants to move beyond rhetoric and take practical steps toward resolution. “We cannot wait for perfect conditions. We must create them. We cannot defer peace efforts until suffering becomes unbearable. We must act before it is too late,” he said.
Addressing the ongoing war in Gaza, Guterres condemned Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, while also criticizing the magnitude of Israel’s military response, which he said has devastated Gaza and its people.
“Gaza has descended into a cascade of catastrophes. Tens of thousands dead. Virtually the entire population displaced many times over. The shadow of starvation looming over everyone,” he lamented.
He called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza. “These are not preconditions for peace. They are the foundation of it,” he emphasized.
Also speaking at the conference, UN General Assembly President Philémon Yang echoed Guterres’s call for urgent action. He stated that the conflict cannot be resolved through perpetual war or indefinite occupation and pointed to growing global support for Palestinian statehood. He cited, in particular, France’s recent announcement of its intent to formally recognize the State of Palestine as a sign of shifting international momentum.
