UN Chief Warns of Two-State Solution's Demise, Cites Gaza Destruction

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, addressing the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, September 22, described the widespread killing and destruction in Gaza following the October 7th attacks. He highlighted the targeting of Palestinian civilians, human rights violations, and the use of starvation as a weapon.

Guterres also voiced grave concerns regarding the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, warning that it "erodes the prospects for peace" and raises the "specter of ethnic cleansing." He stated that violence, displacement, and settlement expansion are undermining the path to peace and stressed the necessity of preserving the possibility of a two-state solution, asserting, "We cannot allow the two-state solution to fade before our eyes."

Shifting to the global landscape, Guterres noted the world's clear movement towards a multipolar system, marked by rising tensions and distrust. He emphasized that current challenges demand greater cooperation and justice, not reliance on force, as no single power can address global issues alone. He added that recent events demonstrate that military might alone cannot guarantee peace.

In his call for de-escalation, Guterres urged an end to fighting in conflict zones, reiterating that military means alone do not ensure security or stability. He pointed out that the impacts of wars in the Middle East and Europe extend beyond battlefields, posing a threat to global stability.

Following Guterres' remarks, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich vehemently attacked the UN chief, labeling his statements "inciting, unhinged, and supportive of terrorism." Smotrich accused Guterres of being the "financial head of UNRWA, which formed the executive arm of Hamas in the October 7th attack" and declared, "He has no right to lecture us." Smotrich also expressed pride in a "settlement revolution in the West Bank that effectively eliminates the idea of a Palestinian state."