Tag Archives: TwoState

West Bank: New Israeli measures further erode prospects for two-State solution

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The measures would make it easier for Jewish settlers to take over Palestinian land, thus expanding Israel’s power in the territory, according to media reports. 

The UN chief warned that the current trajectory on the ground – including this decision – is eroding the prospect for the two-State solution, according to a statement issued by his Spokesperson. 

Settlements are illegal 

He reiterated that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and their associated regime and infrastructure, have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including relevant UN resolutions. 

“Such actions, including Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are not only destabilizing but – as recalled by the International Court of Justice – unlawful,” the statement said. 

 The Secretary-General called on Israel to reverse the measures. 

He also urged all parties “to preserve the only path to lasting peace, a negotiated two-State solution, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions and international law.” 

Heading off course 

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric was asked about the statement during his regular briefing to journalists in New York. 

“These decisions are not moving us in the right direction,” he said. 

“They are driving us further and further away from a two-State solution and from the ability of the Palestinian authority and the Palestinian people to control their own destiny.” 

Ongoing aid efforts in Gaza 

Meanwhile, humanitarians in the Gaza Strip continue to respond to the immense needs of the population despite impediments and a challenging operating environment. 

The UN and partners are serving hundreds of thousands of meals each day, in addition to providing digital cash and monthly rations, Mr. Dujarric said. 

Colleagues report that Gaza City continues to face a severe shortage of drinking and domestic water despite the recent re-opening of the valve on the Mekorot supply line there that connects Israel to Gaza for fresh water.  

Water and hygiene support 

Currently, only 6,000 cubic metres of water are reaching people in Gaza City every day, with significant losses in hard-to-reach areas.  

“To mitigate this shortfall, we and our partners have increased water production and trucked deliveries from groundwater wells and private sector desalination plants,” he said. 

Aid partners have distributed over 100,000 water jerry cans across the Gaza Strip since late January, he added. 

They have also provided over 700,000 bars of soap, over 25,000 hygiene kits, over 400 household latrines, and 250 anti-lice kits 

Explosive ordnance threat 

Since Wednesday, humanitarians working in mine action have conducted over 200 assessments of potential explosive hazards in support of the removal of debris. 

They reached over 10,000 children and adults last week with education warning them of the risks of explosive ordnance which remains a major threat.  

Thirty-three explosive ordnance incidents have been reported since the ceasefire came into effect last October, resulting in nine deaths and 65 injuries.  

Restrictions and limitations 

UN aid coordination office, OCHA, noted that humanitarians continue to be hampered by restrictions, including limitations on the entry of so-called “dual use” items and those listed as non-humanitarian in nature. 

This includes spare parts and certain shelter materials.  

Humanitarian operations are also being undermined by Israel’s de-registration of some international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and restrictions imposed on the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees – UNRWA – and sister agencies. 

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France Joins UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal in Recognising Palestinian Statehood

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France joins UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal in recognising Palestinian statehood at UN-backed conference

United Nations/New York: UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday reiterated that nothing can justify the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, nor the “collective punishment” inflicted on the Palestinian people in their aftermath. Calling for an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza, he urged the release of all hostages and the opening of safe, unconditional and unhindered humanitarian corridors.

Speaking at the resumed international conference on Palestine, co-chaired with Saudi Arabia, Guterres warned that the viability of a two-state solution is being undermined by “relentless” settlement expansion, the “creeping threat of annexation” and a surge in settler violence in the West Bank.

“The time for peace has come because we are just a few moments away from no longer being able to seize peace,” he told delegates. “Let’s be clear: statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward. Denying it would be a gift to extremists everywhere.”

France Backs Palestinian Statehood

The conference, held after the General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed the first phase outcome declaration in July, saw fresh diplomatic momentum. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal formally recognised the State of Palestine on Sunday. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Paris would follow suit, a declaration that drew lengthy applause.

“The recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel, which France has supported from Day One,” Macron said. “This recognition is the only solution that will allow Israel to live in peace.”

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud praised the countries that had recognised Palestine and urged others to “take a similar historic step.” Such recognition, he said, would “support efforts towards the implementation of the two-State solution, achieve permanent and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and create a new reality of stability and prosperity.”

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UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock acknowledged scepticism around the two-state formula, noting that the UN’s earliest resolutions on the issue date back to its founding years. But she stressed that pursuing the alternative would mean conceding to “evil” and risk “the end of this institution.”

“This is not a naïve wish,” Baerbock insisted. “The international community is committed not only to the principle of two states but to identifying tangible, timebound and irreversible steps for its realisation, backed by decisive measures and international guarantees.”

The conference underscored a growing shift among Western powers towards recognising Palestinian statehood, even as conditions on the ground remain volatile. For Guterres and other leaders, the message was clear: without urgent steps, the two-state solution risks slipping out of reach, with grave consequences for peace and security in the Middle East and beyond.

General Assembly endorses New York Declaration on two-State solution between Israel and Palestine

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The New York Declaration is the outcome of an international conference held in July at UN Headquarters, organized by France and Saudi Arabia, which resumes later this month.

The General Assembly comprises all 193 UN Member States and 142 countries voted in favour of a resolution backing the document.

Israel voted against it, alongside nine other countries – Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga and the United States – while 12 nations abstained.

‘Roadmap’ for the future

Prior to the vote, French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont recalled that the New York Declaration “lays out a single roadmap to deliver the two-State solution”.

This involves an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages held there, and the establishment of a Palestinian State that is both viable and sovereign.

The roadmap further calls for the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from governance in Gaza, normalization between Israel and the Arab countries, as well as collective security guarantees.

Speaking ahead of the vote, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said that “this one-sided Declaration will not be remembered as a step toward peace, only as another hollow gesture that weakens this Assembly’s credibility.” 

He said that “Hamas is the biggest winner of any endorsement here today” and will declare it “the fruit of 7 October”.

The high-level international conference in July was held against the backdrop of the war in Gaza and deteriorating prospects for the two-State solution.

In remarks to the opening segment, UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted that “the central question for Middle East peace is implementation of the two-State solution, where two independent, sovereign, democratic States – Israel and Palestine – live side-by-side in peace and security.” 

With Gaza smouldering, ministers renew push for two-State solution at UN

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The High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution took place in New York from 28 to 30 July.

The United States and Israel did not participate.

France and Saudi Arabia, co-chairs of the Conference, called on all UN Member States to support a declaration urging collective action to end the war in Gaza and to achieve a just, peaceful and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution outlines political, humanitarian, and security steps to be taken on a timebound and irreversible basis.

The co-chairs urged countries to endorse the declaration by the end of the 79th session of the General Assembly, in early September, should they so wish.

Act before it is too late

In his stark opening remarks on Monday, Secretary-General Guterres stressed that the two-State solution is the only viable path to ending the longstanding conflict and achieving lasting peace in the region, warning that there is no alternative.

“A one-State reality where Palestinians are denied equal rights and forced to live under perpetual occupation and inequality? A one-State reality where Palestinians are expelled from their land? That is not peace. That is not justice. And that is not acceptable,” he said.

He condemned both Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attacks and the scale of Israel’s military response, reiterating his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and unfettered humanitarian access.

“This conflict cannot be managed. It must be resolved,” Mr. Guterres concluded. “We must act before it is too late.”

Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the high-level conference on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-State solution.

Calls for peace

Over the three days, more than 125 speakers took the floor during the general debate, including high-level representatives from across the globe and major regional and international organizations such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Delegates underscored the urgency of concrete steps to realise a two-State solution, highlighting the need to empower and reform the Palestinian Authority, reconstruct Gaza and ensure accountability for violations of international law.

France, which co-chaired the Conference, recalled its support for Israel as it joined the community of nations and affirmed that Palestinians deserve the same right to a homeland.

“At a time where the two-State solution is more threatened than ever, France is ready to fully recognise the State of Palestine,” said Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. That recognition, he added, would come in September when leaders reconvene for the General Assembly’s 80th session.

Co-chair Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan al Saud, emphasised the suffering of thousands of civilians in Gaza under bombardment, while Israeli settlements expand in Jerusalem and the West Bank to alter the region’s demographic nature.

“Peace and security do not take place through deprivation of rights or force,” he said, underscoring the need for a genuine and irreversible peace process.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy of the United Kingdom addresses the high-level conference.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, outlined recent UK actions – including the suspension of arms exports and sanctions on extremist settlers, and restoring of funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

“It is with the hand of history on our shoulders that His Majesty’s Government therefore intends to recognise the State of Palestine when the UN General Assembly gathers in September here in New York,” he declared.

“We will do this unless the Israeli Government acts to end the appalling situation in Gaza, ends its military campaign and commits to a long-term sustainable peace based on a two-State solution.”

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LIVE COVERAGE: Day 3 of high-level conference on two-State solution for Israel and Palestine

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UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday warned that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is “at a breaking point” and headed toward a one-State reality marked by perpetual occupation and inequality, unless the international community takes urgent, irreversible steps to implement the two-State solution.

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LIVE COVERAGE: Day 2 of high-level conference on two-State solution for Israel and Palestine

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Welcome to our continuing live coverage of the high-level international conference at UN Headquarters, aimed at advancing practical steps toward achieving a two-State solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Mandated by the General Assembly, the three-day meeting features plenaries, working groups and interventions from senior UN officials and Member States. UN News app users can follow here.

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Guterres: ‘Breaking point’ reached in Israel-Palestine conflict, urgent action needed on two-State solution

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Speaking Monday morning at the high-level conference on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-State solution, the UN chief painted a stark picture of a conflict that continues to “take lives, destroy futures, and destabilise the region and our world.”

“We know that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has endured for generations – defying hopes, defying diplomacy, defying countless resolutions, defying international law,” Mr. Guterres said. “But we also know its persistence is not inevitable. It can be resolved. That demands political will and courageous leadership. And it demands truth.”

“The truth is: we are at a breaking point. The two-State solution is farther than ever before.”

The Secretary-General denounced the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel and hostage-taking as acts of terror he has “repeatedly condemned.” At the same time, he said “nothing can justify the obliteration of Gaza that has unfolded before the eyes of the world.”

He also spoke out against the starvation of civilians, the killing of tens of thousands, mass displacement, settler violence and the “creeping annexation” of the occupied West Bank – a move he called “illegal”.

Stop undermining two-State solution

“Unilateral actions that would forever undermine the two-State solution are unacceptable and they must stop,” he said. “These are not isolated events. They are part of a systemic reality that is dismantling the building blocks of peace in the Middle East.”

The three-day conference is mandated by the General Assembly through resolutions ES-10/24 and 79/81, is co-organized by France and Saudi Arabia. It includes plenary sessions and thematic roundtables on issues such as security arrangements, humanitarian needs, reconstruction, and the economic viability of a future Palestinian state.

A group photograph of senior UN officials and ministers attending the high-level international conference.

Move beyond ‘well-meaning rhetoric’

In his speech, Mr. Guterres urged Member States not to let the event become “another exercise in well-meaning rhetoric.”

“It can and must serve as a decisive turning point – one that catalyses irreversible progress towards ending the occupation and realising our shared aspiration for a viable two-State solution,” he said.

Reiterating the long-standing UN position, the Secretary-General said the two-State solution remains the only viable path to peace – with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side within secure, recognised borders, based on the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.

“It is the sine qua non [Latin for indispensable or absolutely essential] for peace across the wider Middle East,” he concluded.

More to follow…

Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France; Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia; and Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister of the State of Palestine also spoke at the meeting.

The meeting continues with wrap-up sessions of the thematic roundtables. 

A plenary meeting in the General Assembly Hall will take place at 3 PM New York time.

You can follow the live coverage of the conference here.

LIVE COVERAGE: High-level conference on two-State solution for Israel and Palestine

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A world in which a sovereign State of Palestine and Israel co-exist peacefully seems a distant prospect, particularly in light of the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel, and the subsequent Israeli bombardment of Gaza. A high-level UN conference opening on 28 July will, nevertheless, serve as the latest UN-backed attempt to find a way to end the conflict. 

While Gaza ceasefire remains elusive, UN readies for Conference around Israel-Palestine two-State solution

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“It’s not a peace conference,” Bob Rae, Canada’s Ambassador to the UN, told UN News ahead of the event, mandated by the General Assembly, in which his country will play a leading role.

“It’s a way of trying to maintain the debate and get beyond the sticking points to the solutions. We hope there’ll be some listening, and we hope there’ll be some learning on the basis of what we hear.”

Mr. Rae’s caution reflects the high levels of uncertainty and concern surrounding the two-State solution. Neither one of the two parties to the conflict will be taking part, and the United States, a strong backer of Israel, is not expected to participate.

In an address to the Security Council in April, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the process is “at risk of vanishing altogether.” Political will to achieve the goal, he said, “feels more distant than ever.”

However, in an exchange with the press on 5 June Mr. Guterres also said, “And for those that doubt about the two-state solution, I ask: What is the alternative? Is it a one-State solution in which either the Palestinians are expelled, or the Palestinians will be forced to live in their land without rights?” 

He reminded that it was “the duty of the international community to keep the two-state solution alive and then to materialize the conditions to make it happen.”

The Canadian Ambassador said that, whilst the organisers of the event continue to urge Israel and Palestine to engage with the conference, they understand the difficult situation they both find themselves in. “Many citizens [of Israel] are still being held as hostages by Hamas. They’ve suffered this tremendous attack, the worst attack on the Jewish population anywhere in the world since 1940. And now we’re having to deal with the outcome of that which has been the war in Gaza, which is hugely traumatic for the Palestinians and for many members of the Arab community.”

Making a difference on the ground

The conference, held in the Trusteeship Council at UN Headquarters in New York, was convened as a result of the adoption of a General Assembly Resolution (Resolution ES-10/22) in 2024. In a concept note released ahead of the event, the two nations declared that international consensus on the two-State solution “still enjoys near-universal support,” and that it is “clearly the only way to satisfy the legitimate aspirations, in accordance with international law, of both Israelis and Palestinians…and create the conditions for regional peace and stability.”

In a swipe at the failure of previous efforts to bring about peace, the statement declares that “the aim of this international conference would not be to ‘revive’ or to ‘relaunch’ another endless process, but to implement, once and for all, the two-State solution.”

In a preparatory meeting for the conference held at the UN in May, Anne-Claire Legendre, Middle East and North Africa advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron, said that “ the prospects of a Palestinian State must be maintained. Irreversible steps and concrete measures for the implementation thereof are necessary,” and called for a lasting ceasefire, an immediate influx of humanitarian aid and the release of hostages.

Her counterpart, Manal bint Hassan Radwan, head of the Saudi Arabian negotiating team, added that  efforts to end fighting and secure release of hostages and detainees must be “anchored in a credible and irreversible political plan that addresses the root cause of the conflict and offers a real path to peace, dignity and mutual security.”

“There has to be the basis for a broader political solution. It’s not just about saying there’s going to be a ceasefire and that will solve the problem. How do we reconstruct Gaza? How do we change the governance of Gaza? How do we approach the West Bank? How do we deal with issues which have long been the source of a lack of agreement between the parties? Let’s not forget that there has been one really successful negotiation, which was based on the 1993 Oslo Accords, and since that time we have not had a lot of substantive agreements. We’ve got to try to find a way to create a framework for actual discussion.”

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UN chief urges world leaders to keep two-State solution ‘alive’

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“It is absolutely essential to keep alive the two-State solution perspective with all the terrible things we are witnessing in Gaza and the West Bank,” Mr. Guterres told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York.

He was responding to a question about his message to leaders gathering at a high-level international conference later this month on a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region.

“And for those that doubt about the two-State solution, I ask: What is the alternative? Is it a one-state solution in which either the Palestinians are expelled or forced to live in their land without rights?”

Mandated by the UN General Assembly, the high-level event is aimed at charting an “action-oriented” path toward a comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-State formula.

The meeting will include thematic roundtables on key issues such as security, humanitarian reconstruction, and the economic viability of a Palestinian state.

Disappointed over failed resolution

Mr. Guterres also expressed deep disappointment following the Security Council’s failure on Wednesday to adopt a resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of all hostages.

The text, endorsed by all ten elected members of the Council, received support from the other four permanent members, but was vetoed by the United States.

“We are always disappointed when ceasefires do not materialise, releases of hostages [do not happen] and humanitarian aid is not distributed or is distributed in a way that puts at risk the lives of so many Palestinians,” he said, responding to another correspondent.

The Secretary-General reiterated that only a permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and unimpeded humanitarian access would allow the UN to deliver meaningful relief to civilians in Gaza.

He emphasised that during previous temporary ceasefires, the UN was able to mobilise large-scale assistance.

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UN chief urges world leaders to keep two-State solution ‘alive’

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“It is absolutely essential to keep alive the two-State solution perspective with all the terrible things we are witnessing in Gaza and the West Bank,” Mr. Guterres told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York.

He was responding to a question about his message to leaders gathering at a high-level international conference later this month on a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region.

“And for those that doubt about the two-State solution, I ask: What is the alternative? Is it a one-state solution in which either the Palestinians are expelled or forced to live in their land without rights?”

Mandated by the UN General Assembly, the high-level event is aimed at charting an “action-oriented” path toward a comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-State formula.

The meeting will include thematic roundtables on key issues such as security, humanitarian reconstruction, and the economic viability of a Palestinian state.

Disappointed over failed resolution

Mr. Guterres also expressed deep disappointment following the Security Council’s failure on Wednesday to adopt a resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of all hostages.

The text, endorsed by all ten elected members of the Council, received support from the other four permanent members, but was vetoed by the United States.

“We are always disappointed when ceasefires do not materialise, releases of hostages [do not happen] and humanitarian aid is not distributed or is distributed in a way that puts at risk the lives of so many Palestinians,” he said, responding to another correspondent.

The Secretary-General reiterated that only a permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and unimpeded humanitarian access would allow the UN to deliver meaningful relief to civilians in Gaza.

He emphasised that during previous temporary ceasefires, the UN was able to mobilise large-scale assistance.

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Diplomats prepare ground for June conference on two-State solution for Israel and Palestine

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The preparatory session brought together UN Member States to align expectations and finalise arrangements for eight thematic roundtables that will help shape the conference’s outcome.

General Assembly President Philémon Yang urged countries to seize the crucial opportunity to finally make progress.

“The horrors we have witnessed in Gaza for over nineteen months should spur us to urgent action to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The devastating cycles of death, destruction, and displacement cannot be allowed to continue,” he said.

“This conflict cannot be resolved through permanent war, nor through endless occupation or annexation. It will only end when Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in their own sovereign, independent States, in peace, security, and dignity,” he added.

General Assembly President Yang addresses the preparatory meeting.

Concrete outcomes needed

Co-chairs France and Saudi Arabia emphasised the need for the June conference to go beyond reaffirming principles and achieve concrete results on the ground.

“We must urgently move from words to deeds. We must move from ending the war in Gaza to ending the conflict itself,” said Anne-Claire Legendre, Middle East and North Africa advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron.

“Faced with the facts on the ground, the prospects of a Palestinian State must be maintained. Irreversible steps and concrete measures for the implementation thereof are necessary.”

Alongside, she reiterated calls for a lasting ceasefire, an immediate influx of humanitarian aid and the release of hostages.

Historic moment

Manal bint Hassan Radwan, head of the Saudi Arabian negotiating team, called the moment “historic,” stating that the preparatory meeting must “chart a course for action, not reflection.”  

“Civilians continue to pay the price of a war that must end immediately. The escalation in the West Bank is equally alarming. Despair grows deeper by the day,” she said.

“This is precisely why we must speak not only of ending the war, but of ending a conflict that has lasted nearly eight decades,” she continued, adding efforts to end fighting and secure release of hostages and detainees must be “anchored in a credible and irreversible political plan that addresses the root cause of the conflict and offers a real path to peace, dignity and mutual security.”

Outcome document

The General Assembly decided to convene the conference in its resolution ES-10/24. Further details were outlined in resolution 79/81.

As outlined in General Assembly resolution 79/81, the Conference will produce an action-oriented outcome document entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and implementation of the two-State solution”.

The aim is to chart a clear and irreversible pathway toward a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in accordance with UN resolutions.

About the Conference

The conference will include a plenary session with statements from the President of the General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General, and the co-chairs, followed by interventions from Member States and observers.

According to a concept note from the co-chairs, the conference will also feature eight thematic roundtables, each focused on critical dimensions of the two-State solution. 

The working groups include security arrangements for both Israelis and Palestinians, the economic viability of a Palestinian State, and humanitarian action and reconstruction.

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Two-State solution nearing point of no return, warns UN chief

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Addressing a Security Council debate on Tuesday, António Guterres said the Middle East stands at a critical crossroads.

“The promise of a two-State solution is at risk of vanishing altogether,” he said. “Political will to achieve that goal feels more distant than ever.”

He stressed that this erosion undermines the rights of both Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace and security, while denying Palestinians their legitimate national aspirations.

Gaza crisis ‘beyond imagination’

Mr. Guterres expressed deep concern over the worsening crisis in Gaza, where nearly 2,000 Palestinians have been killed since the March ceasefire collapsed.

He condemned the ongoing blockade of aid – including food, fuel and medicine – which has pushed over two million people into a humanitarian emergency he called “beyond imagination.”

“I am alarmed by statements from Israeli officials suggesting aid is being used as leverage for military gain,” he said. “Aid is not a bargaining chip. It is non-negotiable.”

He renewed calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and full humanitarian access. He also underscored the need to uphold international law, protect UN personnel and facilities, and ensure accountability for attacks on aid workers.

Tensions in the West Bank

Turning to the West Bank including East Jerusalem, the Secretary-General described a worsening situation marked by Palestinian displacement, home demolitions, restricted movement and expanding Israeli settlements that are reshaping the territory in violation of international law.

“Palestinians are being contained and coerced,” he said – contained in areas under growing military pressure and coerced out of others where settlements are expanding.

Settler violence continues to rise amid impunity, while Palestinian attacks on Israelis also persist in both Israel and the occupied West Bank.

Secretary-General Guterres briefs the Security Council.

A pivotal moment for peace

With the region in turmoil, Mr. Guterres urged countries to move beyond statements and outline specific steps to revive the two-State solution.

“This is not a time for box-ticking,” he said. “The clock is ticking – and time is running out.”

He called on the international community to prevent a future of endless occupation and violence through sustained and serious action.

Leaders must deliver

The Secretary-General highlighted the upcoming high-level conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia as a key chance to reenergise international support.

“I urge Member States to go beyond declarations and consider concrete steps to save the two-State solution – before it disappears altogether,” he said.

“At this hinge point in history, leaders must show courage, act with resolve, and deliver peace for Palestinians, Israelis, the region, and the world.”

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