United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the Security Council to unite in support of an immediate ceasefire leading to a two-state solution during a briefing on Gaza in New York on Friday, stressing that it is the only way to end the cycle of tragedy.
Guterres warned that shockwaves radiating from the unprecedented death and destruction in Gaza now threaten to push the entire region into the abyss.
He said that over the past year, virtually the entire population of Gaza has been displaced, many of them several times, with nowhere safe to go. Furthermore, half of the homeless are children.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian system is hanging by a thread, as 226 of UN colleagues have been killed, said Guterres, who called for investigations and accountability for these killings.
"The key to peace in the region is a political solution. All hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally, and the international community must mobilize for an immediate ceasefire and the beginning of an irreversible process towards the end of the Occupation and the creation of a Palestinian State. I urge the Council to unite in support of an immediate ceasefire leading to a viable two-State solution. That is the only way to end this cycle of tragedy," he said.
During the meeting, representatives from various countries once again urged the conflicting parties to reach a ceasefire agreement promptly, release detainees, and provide large-scale humanitarian assistance to the people in Gaza.
Immediate ceasefire leading to two-state solution only way to end cycle of tragedy: UN chief
Immediate ceasefire leading to two-state solution only way to end cycle of tragedy: UN chief
