Guterres tells Security Council two-State solution ‘near point of no return’

UNAA
Apr 29
9 min read

29th April 2025

The Security Council met on Tuesday on the situation in the Middle East, where Secretary-General António Guterres told ambassadors that irreversible action must be taken to finally put a two-State solution in place for Israel and Palestine. The discussions took place as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, with reports from the UN Palestine refugee relief agency (UNRWA) that children are "going to bed starving" amid the two-month Israeli aid blockade and continuing bombardment.

**© UNFPA** | A boy stops in front of a destroyed building in Gaza

Guterres warns of dwindling hopes for a two-State solution

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the Middle East is undergoing fundamental shifts, marked by violence and volatility but also opportunity and potential.

He stressed that truly sustainable peace in the region hinges on one central question - a two-State solution between Israel and Palestine.

“Today, the promise of a two-State solution is at risk of dwindling to the point of disappearance,” he warned. “The political commitment to this long-standing goal is farther than it has ever been.”

As a result, the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security have been undermined, he said, and the legitimate national aspirations of the Palestinian people have been denied.

The situation has gotten worse since the horrific 7 October 2023 terror attacks by Hamas, he continued, pointing to the unrelenting conflict and devastation in Gaza as well as ongoing Israeli military operations and settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

“The world cannot afford to watch the two-State solution disappear,” he said.

UN chief appeals for restoration of aid to Gaza

The Secretary-General told the Security Council that there is no end in sight to the killing and misery in the Gaza Strip.

Although the ceasefire brought a glimmer of hope, with the release of hostages and delivery of lifesaving humanitarian aid, “those embers of opportunity were cruelly extinguished” with the shattering of the truce on 18 March.

The humanitarian situation throughout the enclave “has gone from bad … to worse … to beyond imagination,” he said.

“For nearly two full months, Israel has blocked food, fuel, medicine and commercial supplies, depriving more than two million people of lifesaving relief. All while the world watches,” he said.

Mr. Guterres stressed that “aid is non-negotiable” and that “Israel must protect civilians and must agree to relief schemes and facilitate them.”

He called for the entry of assistance to be restored immediately. Furthermore, the safety of UN personnel and humanitarian partners must be guaranteed, and UN agencies must be allowed to work in full respect of the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.

“There must be no hindrance in humanitarian aid – including through the vital work of UNRWA,” he said, referring to the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees.

Guterres urges international action to achieve two-State solution

Concluding his remarks, the Secretary-General again warned that “the two-State solution is near a point of no return,” and the international community has a responsibility to prevent perpetual occupation and violence.

“My call to Member States is clear and urgent: Take irreversible action towards implementing a two-State solution. Do not let extremists on any side undermine what remains of the peace process,” he said.

The UN chief looked to the High-Level Conference in June, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, as an important opportunity to revitalize international support.

“At this hinge point of history for the people of the Middle East – and on this issue on which so much hinges – leaders must stand and deliver,” said Mr. Guterres.

“Show the political courage and exercise the political will to make good on this central question for peace for Palestinians, Israelis, the region and humanity.”

An imposed shortage of everything in Gaza: Palestine

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the Observer State of Palestine, said that the Security Council has adopted several resolutions with clear goals: ending the bloodshed, ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need, securing the release of hostages and detainees, preventing forcible displacement and annexation, and achieving a two-State solution.

“The world rallied behind these goals and yet the reality today is a declared punitive siege by Israel over Gaza to deprive two million Palestinians, half of them children, of food, water, medicine and electricity, and other essentials of life,” he said.

“There is no shortage of bombs falling on Gaza but there is an imposed shortage of everything else.”

An immediate ceasefire must be resumed, he continued, adding that all its objectives must be achieved.

Mr. Mansour voiced hope that the United States, Egypt and Qatar – with international support – can help restore the ceasefire and begin alleviating the suffering in Gaza.

“There is a way out of this nightmare for everyone’s benefit,” he said.

“We want peace, not only for ourselves but for all. We are committed to the rule of international law and want to see it prevail. We believe that a peaceful approach is the one that deliver our people’s rights and that there is no justification for harming civilians, whether Palestinians or Israelis.”

Two-State solution, only solution that can guarantee peace and security: France

Speaking in his national capacity, Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, reiterated France’s commitment to a two-State solution.

France’s first priority is to put an end “to hostilities to bring an end to civilian suffering,” he said. There is a crucial need for the ceasefire in Gaza to be reinstated, and for the ceasefire in Lebanon to be maintained.

In Gaza, “the situation is catastrophic,” Mr. Barrot continued, calling on Israel to lift all restrictions so that humanitarian aid can enter Gaza.

France’s second priority is to help rebuild “the territories terrorised by conflict,” he added, stating that France is supporting Lebanon’s rebuilding efforts and that it is prepared to support Syria and Gaza as well.

His country’s third priority is to work towards attaining a political solution that guarantees just and lasting peace based on the two-State solution, the Minister said, adding that jointly with Saudi Arabia, France is organizing an international conference on the implementation of a two-State solution in June.

UK urges ceasefire, humanitarian access

Lord Ray Collins, Under-Secretary of State for the UK Foreign Office, said that the human cost of the 7 October 2023 attacks was “horrific”.

“Since that day, hostages have endured unimaginable cruelty and Palestinians have faced relentless death and destruction,” he said, welcoming President Mahmoud Abbas’s call for the remaining hostages to be released.

“We echo that call. We also need a return to the ceasefire to end the terrible bloodshed.”

He voiced deep concern over UN World Food Programme (WFP) food stocks in Gaza running out, stating that it is “unacceptable” that Israel has blocked humanitarian support from entering Gaza for nearly two months.

“UN and other workers must be able to deliver life-saving assistance safely, and in line with humanitarian principles,” he said.

‘Fresh thinking’ needed: United States

US Ambassador and Acting Representative Dorothy Shea said that “fresh thinking” is needed for durable peace and prosperity in the Middle East region that provides opportunities for all its people.

“With respect to the humanitarian needs in Gaza, no one wants to see Palestinian civilians go hungry or thirsty,” she said.

“A ceasefire agreement would create the condition for the flow of humanitarian aid, but Hamas is preventing this aid from being concluded,” she said.

She added that just two weeks ago, Hamas rejected a proposal from the United States, Qatar and Egypt that would have released the hostages held for 570 days.

“Instead, Hamas – a brutal terrorist organization – continues to violently suppress organic protests against its barbaric rule and demonstrate its lack of regard for Palestinian civilians it purports to represent.”

Denmark calls for end to Gaza aid ban

Danish Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen highlighted the worsening situation in Gaza, where no humanitarian aid has been allowed in for almost two months.

She also voiced alarm over reports that the World Food Programme (WFP) has depleted all its food stocks. Furthermore, families “are reporting utter exhaustion from moving numerous times due to Israeli-issued evacuation orders.”

Ms. Lassen said Israel has experienced extreme trauma following the Hamas terrorist attack on 7 October 2023 and has the right to defend itself, and that Denmark will continue to condemn such attacks.

“We will also continue to remind Israel that it must defend itself within the parameters of international law, including international humanitarian law,” she added.

Status quo is untenable: Pakistan

Pakistan's Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the tragedy unfolding in Gaza is “without precedent” – both in its scale and its inhumanity.

“This is not merely a humanitarian crisis, it is the systematic destruction of a people and the erasure of a nation’s right to exist,” he said, describing the Israeli strike on al-Ahli Hospital earlier this month as “a horrific massacre.”

He said that the deliberate targeting of civilians and essential infrastructure, the use of starvation and burning of displaced families in tents “are not collateral damages of war, they are methods of war.”

He added that Israel’s unilateral breach of the ceasefire agreement, brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the US, “was a deliberate choice of return to war over diplomacy”.

“In the face of this gloom and devastation, the world must act. The status quo is untenable,” he said, calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, full and unhindered humanitarian access, and a clear political horizon grounded in Palestinian statehood.

UN rights chief calls for international action to prevent catastrophe in Gaza

With the Israeli blockade of aid into Gaza entering a ninth week UN human rights chief Volker Türk warned on Tuesday that the situation in Gaza is reaching unprecedented crisis levels.

He cautioned that Israel’s reported plan to designate Rafah in southern Gaza as a "humanitarian zone" would force displaced Palestinians to relocate in order to receive aid, leaving vulnerable groups—including the sick, injured, and disabled—without access to food, effectively deepening the humanitarian crisis.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces have continued to attack locations where civilians have sought refuge, targeting residential areas, healthcare facilities, and infrastructure critical to humanitarian operations, such as water trucks and excavation equipment.

Mr. Türk stressed that such actions obstruct relief efforts, worsen public health conditions, and delay rescue operations, further endangering civilians. Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe, he declared, could escalate beyond anything seen up to now.

Impose an immediate ceasefire before it is too late: Algeria

Amar Bendjama, the Ambassador of Algeria, said that despite the UN Secretary-General’s “tireless efforts to ease the suffering of the Palestinian people,” the international community and the Security Council have both failed to “extend the level of support required to make these efforts impactful.”

“The absence of collective action, the lack of accountability, and the double standard have emboldened the Israeli occupying power to act with total impunity,” he said, adding that the crisis in Gaza is one of the worst humanitarian failures of our generation.

“Today the notion of a Palestinian state feels more like a fading delusion,” the Algerian Ambassador said.

He stated that despite waves of dispossession and despite the immense suffering, the Palestinian people have never surrendered and continue to cling to their homeland, culture and aspirations.

“With the support of the international community, and through steadfast resilience, the Palestinian people will achieve their inalienable right to self-determination,” he added.

Russia deplores use of aid ‘as a bargaining chip’

Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip has been made worse by the nearly 60-day blockade of food and medicines.

He noted that this has led to supplies running out, despite 3,000 trucks from UN Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) being ready to enter the enclave.

Humanitarian organizations are also warning about an impending famine, particularly among children.

“We must not forget that these actions of Israel are directly impacting the detention conditions of the hostages in the Strip,” he said.

“It is totally unacceptable to use humanitarian assistance as a bargaining chip in negotiations.”

The situation is “artificially exacerbated by Israel's ban on UNRWA’s work,” he added, noting that the agency “plays a key, irreplaceable role in conducting humanitarian operations on the ground and providing comprehensive assistance to Palestinians.”

Mr. Nebenzya said undermining the work of UNRWA “is complicating an already difficult situation” for people in Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and he urged Israel to reconsider its decision to cease cooperation with the agency.

Here are some highlights from today:

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the two-State solution is “near a point of no return,” urging Member States to take irreversible steps to implement it.
He emphasised peace in the Middle East hinges on a future where Israel and Palestine living side by side, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
He described the depth of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as “beyond imagination” with food, fuel and medicine blocked for nearly two full months. He reiterated that Israel must protect civilians and allow full humanitarian access, including for the outlawed Palestinian relief agency, UNRWA.
Addressing recent attacks on UN personnel, Mr. Guterres demanded accountability, stressing all parties must respect international humanitarian law and that UN premises, property and staff must be protected without exception.