UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the global community to maintain pressure for a complete ceasefire and the release of all hostages in Gaza. His remarks came during a session of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, which convened to elect a new bureau and set its agenda for the year.
This statement followed comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump, who, in a White House address, suggested the U.S. could “take over” Gaza and urged Palestinians there to leave. In his speech, Guterres emphasized that the core of the Palestinian people’s rights lies in their ability to live as human beings in their own land. He noted the increasing erosion of these rights and the alarming dehumanization of Palestinians.
Guterres condemned the Hamas attacks of October 7 and the ongoing violence in Gaza, describing the situation as a catastrophic loss of life, with nearly 50,000 reported dead, predominantly women and children. The destruction of civilian infrastructure and the displacement, hunger, and disease faced by Gaza’s population were highlighted, with children suffering the added blow of prolonged school closures.
He welcomed the ceasefire and hostage release deal brokered in January, thanking mediators such as Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. He stressed the need for a permanent ceasefire and the immediate release of all hostages, emphasizing that the world cannot afford to return to further death and devastation.
The UN is working tirelessly to provide aid to those in need, with an urgent call for the international community to provide sustained humanitarian support. Guterres also underscored the importance of supporting the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which assists Palestinian refugees.
In his final remarks, Guterres reaffirmed the need for a two-state solution as the only path to lasting peace. He reiterated that a viable Palestinian state, coexisting peacefully with Israel, is essential for regional stability. He also condemned the rising violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and called for the end of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, as affirmed by the International Court of Justice.
Ambassador Coly Seck of Senegal, who was newly elected chair of the Committee, also called for stronger strategies to support peace efforts. He condemned Israeli legal measures that hinder UNRWA operations and stressed the need for international action to protect the rights of the Palestinian people. Ambassador Riyad Mansour of Palestine expressed his gratitude for the ceasefire but called for its expansion to cover all of Gaza and the occupied territories, along with full implementation of the ceasefire agreement’s provisions, including Gaza’s reconstruction and the return of displaced people.
