The rejection of a two-state solution by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a cause for concern, according to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In a strongly worded statement delivered at a ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council, Guterres warned that Netanyahu's stance would perpetuate the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, posing a threat to global peace and empowering extremists worldwide.
Guterres emphasized the importance of recognizing the right of the Palestinian people to establish their own fully independent state. He stressed that any party's refusal to accept the two-state solution should be firmly rejected. Highlighting the consequences of an alternative one-state solution, Guterres stated that a situation where a large number of Palestinians reside without freedom, rights, and dignity would be inconceivable.
The UN chief also expressed concern about the escalating risks of regional conflict arising from the Israeli-Hamas war, citing Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Pakistan as examples. He urged all involved parties to step back from the brink and consider the devastating costs of a wider war. This call comes in the wake of Netanyahu's rejection of a Palestinian state, which has strained Israel's relationship with its closest ally, the United States, who supports a two-state solution.
Uzra Zeya, the under secretary for civilian security, democracy, and human rights at the US State Department, echoed Guterres' sentiments. She emphasized the US's goal of pursuing both a Palestinian state and normalization and integration between Israel and other regional states. Zeya reiterated the Biden administration's call for Israel to do more to protect Palestinian civilians and for the establishment of a future where Gaza is not used as a platform for terror.
While countries around the world voiced their support for a two-state solution during the meeting, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the United States for wavering in its approach to the conflict. Lavrov accused the US of vetoing resolutions on a cease-fire while simultaneously calling for a reduction in hostilities. He argued that such actions provided Israel with carte blanche to subject Palestinians to collective punishment.
Secretary-General Guterres reiterated his long-standing appeal for a humanitarian cease-fire. However, Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, rejected the idea, citing Hamas' commitment to attacking Israel and its desire to regroup and rearm during a proposed halt in fighting. Erdan urged the Security Council to address what he identified as the root of the conflict: Iran.
Erdan strongly criticized the presence of Iran's foreign minister at the council meeting, accusing the country of supplying weapons to Hamas, Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, and Houthi militants in Yemen. He warned that Iran's acts of terror would soon take place under the protection of a nuclear umbrella, posing a threat to all nations.
Responding to Erdan's comments, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian stated that Israel would not achieve its goal of destroying Hamas. Stressing the importance of ending the genocide in Gaza, Amirabdollahian emphasized that doing so was key to regional security.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki condemned Israel's actions during the Israeli-Hamas war, describing it as the most savage bombing campaign since World War II. He decried the resulting famine and massive displacement of civilians and accused Israel of viewing Palestinians as a threat to be eliminated through death, displacement, or subjugation. Al-Maliki argued that Palestinian freedom was essential for achieving peace and security in the Middle East, emphasizing that the alternative would perpetuate bloodshed and endless conflict.
France's foreign minister, Stéphane Séjourné, who currently holds the council presidency, warned that a regional conflagration was a real possibility. He called for unity and for different messages to be delivered to both parties involved in the conflict. Séjourné asserted that Israel must be told that there must be a Palestinian state and that violence against Palestinians, including by West Bank settlers, must end. At the same time, the Palestinians must recognize Israel's right to live in peace and security and exercise its right to self-defense against terrorism.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan criticized the argument that the war aimed to provide security for Israel, arguing that it failed to acknowledge the Palestinians' right to security and self-defense. Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi condemned the ideology of hate expressed openly by Israeli ministers, which he claimed normalized the mass murder of Palestinians. Safadi called for the council to pass a binding resolution, holding Israel accountable for war crimes and for obstructing the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has had severe and far-reaching consequences, with thousands of casualties, wide-scale destruction, and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As the international community grapples with this ongoing crisis, efforts to seek a peaceful resolution and promote the recognition of the rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians remain paramount.
