United Nations: Palestinian statehood is a legitimate right, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, renewing his call to end what he described as the unlawful occupation of Palestinian territories.
Speaking through his chef de cabinet, Courtenay Rattray, at a meeting marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Guterres said the Palestinian people are entitled to dignity, justice and self-determination.
He urged “irreversible progress” toward a two-state solution grounded in international law and UN resolutions, with Israel and Palestine coexisting peacefully within secure, recognised borders based on pre-1967 lines, and Jerusalem serving as the capital of both states.
Guterres said Palestinian rights have been violated “beyond comprehension” in the past two years. He noted that the October ceasefire and the Security Council’s recent resolution on Gaza provide some hope, but stressed that all sides must fully implement the measures and quickly move to the next phase.
He called for unrestricted, large-scale humanitarian access into Gaza, pointing to Israel’s obligations under the International Court of Justice’s latest advisory opinion, and urged member states to meet the $4 billion Flash Appeal for the occupied territories.
Guterres reaffirmed the UN’s unwavering commitment to Palestinian self-determination and urged governments, civil society, religious leaders and citizens to support the cause.
The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People has been observed annually on November 29 since 1977, commemorating the UN General Assembly’s 1947 resolution on the partition of Palestine.
