United Nations secretary-general urges immediate ceasefire and revival of two-state solution

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Buteles, addressing an international conference convened by France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and speaking to the General Assembly, urged immediate action to stop the violence in Gaza and to revive efforts to implement a two‑state solution.

"For decades, Middle East diplomacy has been far more process than peace," Buteles said, arguing that words and declarations have not matched conditions on the ground and asking, "what is the alternative?" He said the only realistic, just and sustainable solution is "2 states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security" on the basis of the pre‑1967 lines with Jerusalem as the capital of both.

Buteles said the current trajectory is untenable. He described Gaza as having "descended into a cascade of catastrophes, tens of thousands dead, virtually the entire population displaced many times over, the shadow of starvation looming over everyone," and called recent steps to ease restrictions on humanitarian aid "far from the solution." He said the international community must press for "an immediate permanent ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and full and unfettered humanitarian access."

The secretary‑general condemned the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas as "horrific" while also saying "nothing can justify the scale of death and destruction in Gaza since then." He called on states and leaders to condemn all targeting of civilians, denounce incitement to hatred and violence, and to ensure accountability for atrocity crimes and other violations of international law.

Buteles cited the International Court of Justice and international law in arguing that continued occupation of the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, is illegal. He called on the international community to "immediately cease annexation and settlement activities as called by the International Court of Justice" and to reject "the forced displacement of the Palestinian population from any part of the occupied Palestinian territory, which would constitute a grave violation of international human rights and humanitarian law."

The secretary‑general urged support for Palestinian unity and the Palestinian Authority's reform agenda, saying the international community should "recognize when progress is made and continue to support the Palestinian government in its reform agenda under incredibly challenging circumstances." He warned that denial of Palestinian statehood would "be a gift to extremists everywhere" and stressed that "statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward."

Buteles urged leaders and the international community to take "urgent, concrete, irreversible steps necessary to make [the two‑state solution] real," saying that trust is slipping, institutions are weakened and hopes are being dashed. He closed by appealing to shared values and principles in the United Nations Charter and international law and calling for action "not as a concept, but as a commitment."