António Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations, has expressed his deep concern over the recent massacre of civilians in the Gaza Strip. He called for a transformation of this tragedy into an opportunity to move towards a two-state solution for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Guterres stated that the current situation, with thousands of children losing their lives as a result of the Israeli military offensive, is a massacre of civilians unlike any other in recent memory. He hopes for a humanitarian ceasefire, the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and an end to violations of international law.
The Secretary General also envisions a future in which the Palestinian Authority assumes responsibilities in the Gaza Strip, alongside the current control it holds in the West Bank. However, he emphasized that this transition period must be facilitated by the international community to make irreversible progress towards a two-state solution.
Guterres does not believe that the establishment of a UN-supervised “protectorate” is a viable solution and is calling for a transformation of the current situation into an opportunity for progress. He emphasized that this is a critical moment for the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and it requires deliberate efforts to make lasting and positive changes.
