Palestine/Israel: UN Chief urges action to implement Two-State Solution for Lasting Peace | UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “The only realistic, just, and sustainable solution is two States — Israel and Palestine — living side-by-side in peace and security, within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both – in line with international law, UN resolutions and other relevant agreements.”
Guterres today (28 Jul) spoke at the opening segment of the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.
In his remarks, the UN chief warned, time is running out. “With every passing day, trust is slipping. Institutions are weakened. And hopes are dashed.”
He implored the international community not only to keep the two-State solution alive – “but to take the urgent, concrete, irreversible steps necessary to make it real.”
Guterres stressed, “Nothing can justify the horrific 7 October terror attacks by Hamas. And nothing can justify the scale of death and destruction in Gaza since then – a level without precedent in recent times.”
The Secretary-General said, “Let us reject the false choice between Palestinian statehood and Israeli security. There is no security in occupation.”
“Let us affirm,” he said, “Israel’s legitimate security concerns must be addressed. And so must the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”
“We must speak with one voice. To condemn all acts of terror. To denounce all targeting of civilians and taking of hostages. To reject incitement to hatred and violence,” Guterres added.
He continued, “We must call on Israel to recommit – clearly and unequivocally — to the two-State solution, and to cease all actions that undermine it. And we must support Palestinian unity around a peaceful, democratic, and inclusive vision of statehood.”
“Let us lay the groundwork for: Unified Palestinian governance. Credible security arrangements. And a Palestinian Authority that carries out reforms and that can deliver for its people,” he concluded.
France and Saudi Arabia are the Co-chair of the Conference.
For his part, French diplomat Jean-Noël Barrot said that his government is “ready to fully recognize the State of Palestine, and will do so in the month of September next.”
“This recognition, which is a major decision by France, is an expression of both a rejection and it is an appeal. It is a rejection of the idea that the war camp is winning over the peace camp,” Barrot reiterated.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, called on Member States to join the final outcome document and to participate in its implementation.
“Our collective responsibility requires us today to work urgently to end the humanitarian disaster that is threatening the credibility of the international law, and to enable the Palestinian people to achieve self-determination in order to achieve peace and security for all people in the region, opening the way towards stability, prosperity and development,” the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs said.
Philemon Yang, President of the UN General Assembly also spoke at the opening session.
He said, “The focus of this conference must therefore be concrete and action-oriented, identifying steps the international community must take to realise the two-State solution.”
“We must restore both hope and trust: Hope that a better future is possible,” he reiterated.
Prime Minister of State of Palestine, Mohammad Mustafa, said, “This international conference must constitute a turning point in which positions and decisions are translated into immediate and unprecedented practical steps to stop the genocide and end the Israeli occupation.”
“Uphold the Palestinian rights and help an independent Palestinian State on the basis of a two-state solution that takes shape in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy, which opens the way towards peace, security, stability and prosperity in our region for the benefit of all peoples and States,” Prime Minister Mustafa said.
He affirmed “the readiness of the State of Palestine to assume full responsibility for governance and security in Gaza with Arab and international support.”
“We also stress that the State of Palestine is the only holder of the right to rule the entire Gaza Strip, and it is the holder of the exclusive right to maintain security. Israel must withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip, and Hamas must relinquish its control over the Strip and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority,” the Prime Minister added.
He also reaffirmed Palestine’s position, “rejecting violence and terrorism in all its forms, including targeting and attacking civilians.”
Full remarks [as delivered]: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2025-07-28/secretary-generals-remarks-the-opening-segment-of-the-high-level-international-conference-for-the-peaceful-settlement-of-the-question-of-palestine-and-the
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