UN chief 'determined' to oppose Israeli moves undermining two-state solution

In a forceful year-opening address, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared his determined opposition to Israeli policies that he argues are systematically destroying the viability of a future Palestinian state. Speaking in New York on Thursday, Guterres outlined a clear path forward, demanding an end to violence in the West Bank, a full ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and unified international pressure led by the United States.

A Pledge to Oppose Settlements and West Bank Violence

Quoting French statesman Jean Monnet, Guterres stated, "I'm not optimistic, I'm not pessimistic, I'm determined." He directed this determination squarely at Israeli policies in the occupied West Bank. "I'm determined to oppose in a very strong way, all the efforts that Israel is doing to undermine the two-state solution," he said, explicitly citing "the construction of settlements, demolitions, evictions and the violence of the settlers." He called for these actions to stop, referencing a sharp rise in settler attacks since the Gaza war began and Palestinian casualty figures exceeding 1,100 deaths in the territory since October 2023.

A Vision for Gaza's Future and the Imperative of a Ceasefire

Turning to Gaza, the Secretary-General stressed that the current ceasefire is only the first step. "We must have a ceasefire in Gaza, and we must move with the second stage fully," he insisted, defining this as the "full withdrawal of Israeli forces" and the decommissioning of armed groups. He presented a vision for post-war governance, arguing that conditions must be created for a "new governance model" in Gaza that is "progressively linked to the Palestinian Authority," as a step toward a unified Palestinian state consisting of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This vision aligns with the recent International Court of Justice opinion that declared Israel's occupation illegal.

Calling for US Leadership and Reaffirming UN Security Council Primacy

When asked who should pressure Israel, Guterres placed responsibility on the entire international community but singled out the United States as the nation with the most influence. "The country that has more power to put pressure on Israel is the United States," he stated, welcoming Washington's recent recognition of Palestinian self-determination rights. He also addressed the role of the new UN Board on Peace, clarifying that it does not replace the Security Council. Guterres underscored that "only the Security Council can adopt decisions binding on all," and used the moment to reiterate his long-standing call for reform of the Council to make it more representative and effective in maintaining global peace and security.