UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday stressed that a ceasefire in Gaza is not enough on its own, stating the urgent need for a two-state solution that guarantees equal rights for both Palestinians and Israelis.
“A ceasefire must pave the way for a lasting resolution — one where both Palestinians and Israelis have states of their own and can fully enjoy their rights,” Guterres said in a statement.
He described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as “unprecedented,” with widespread death and devastation stripping people of basic human dignity.
Highlighting the injustice, Guterres said that denying 5 million people their rights in their own land violates both human decency and international law.
He also announced plans for a July conference focused on the two-state solution, expressing hope that despite the current challenges, progress toward peace and a lasting truce can be made.
“We urgently need a permanent ceasefire in Gaza,” he stated, calling for concrete steps to end the violence.
Since October 2023, Israel has dismissed global calls for a ceasefire and has continued a devastating military campaign in Gaza, which has killed over 58,000 Palestinians — the majority of them women and children. The offensive has left the enclave in ruins, triggering severe food shortages and disease outbreaks.
