Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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September 23, 2025 Peace and security
At a Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the international community that nearly two years after the Hamas terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023 and the subsequent devastating Israeli military response, the world has witnessed "one of the darkest chapters of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
The catastrophic situation in Gaza
According to the head of the Organization, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has reached massive proportions. "The Israeli military offensive in Gaza is exacerbating an already catastrophic situation. Countless Palestinian civilians and the remaining hostages are trapped under relentless bombing, deprived of food, water, electricity, and medicine. Famine has become a reality," he noted.
Guterres emphasized that such actions are "morally and legally unacceptable." He recalled that he had repeatedly called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and unimpeded humanitarian access. However, he stated that Security Council resolutions remain ignored, international humanitarian law is violated, impunity persists, and the "collective reputation" of the international community is being damaged.
The scale of violence is increasing
The Secretary-General noted that the violence is spreading beyond Gaza, to the occupied West Bank, neighboring countries in the region, and has even recently reached Qatar. He recalled that efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States to broker a ceasefire and release hostages suffered a serious setback after the Israeli attack on September 9, which "was not only a violation of Qatar's sovereignty but also a threat to international mechanisms of diplomacy and conflict resolution."
The Secretary-General said the prospects for a two-state solution are particularly alarming. "The viability of a Palestinian state is at its most critical point in a generation. The relentless expansion of settlements, de facto annexation, and forced displacement are all pushing us to the point of no return," he said.
Expansion of settlements
The Secretary-General noted that the recent approval of construction in the E1 area threatens the integrity of the Palestinian territories and could effectively destroy the possibility of establishing an independent state. "Israeli settlements are not just a political issue. They are a flagrant violation of international law," Guterres stated.
The UN chief also pointed to the crisis within the Palestinian Authority, which is experiencing a severe shortage of finances and trust. "Israel's withholding of customs revenues, the strangulation of the Palestinian economy, and the decline in international aid have resulted in the authorities being unable to pay salaries and provide basic services. Urgent support from the international community—financial and political—is essential to stabilize the situation," he noted.
Ray of Hope
At the same time, the Secretary-General emphasized that there is a "ray of hope." He welcomed the resumption of the High-Level International Conference on the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, as well as the recognition of Palestinian statehood by an increasing number of countries, including permanent Security Council members France and the United Kingdom.
"This is the most direct path to a two-state solution – to peace and security, where Israel and an independent, viable, democratic state of Palestine live side by side within the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, in accordance with international law and UN resolutions," he said.
In closing, Guterres emphasized that a just and lasting peace can never be built on violence. He called on Security Council members "not to squander this fragile moment" and to shoulder their responsibility to preserve hope for a settlement.
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