The viability of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is nearing a “point of no return,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Tuesday, urging global powers to act before the prospect of lasting peace vanishes entirely.
Addressing an open debate on the situation in the Middle East, Guterres stressed that sustainable peace hinges on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state existing peacefully alongside Israel, with Jerusalem as the shared capital. But he warned that political will to achieve that long-standing vision is eroding rapidly.
“The promise of a two-state solution is at risk of dwindling to the point of disappearance,” Guterres said, citing a lack of international resolve and deteriorating conditions on the ground.
Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, followed by Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, the humanitarian and political landscape has worsened significantly, the UN chief noted. He highlighted intensified military operations in the occupied West Bank, a sharp rise in settler violence, and increasing hardship for Palestinian civilians, all exacerbated by a climate of impunity.
Guterres expressed alarm over reports that Israeli officials may be using humanitarian aid as leverage in military efforts, calling for an end to all impediments to the delivery of humanitarian assistance — especially the work of UN agencies like UNRWA. He reiterated demands for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and a permanent ceasefire.
“The world cannot afford to watch the two-state solution disappear,” Guterres warned, calling on UN member states to act decisively rather than remain passive.
International humanitarian and human rights law must be upheld, he said, reminding Israel — as the occupying power — of its legal obligations to ensure access to food, medicine, and humanitarian aid in the Palestinian territories.
Looking ahead, Guterres pointed to the upcoming High-Level Conference on the Middle East, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia in June, as a critical opportunity to renew international commitment to the two-state framework. He urged states to move beyond symbolic affirmations and take tangible steps to support a viable Palestinian state and strengthen the Palestinian Authority politically and financially.
“Show the political courage and exercise the political will,” he concluded, “to make good on this central question for peace — for Palestinians, Israelis, the region and humanity.”
Source: Statements by UN Secretary-General António Guterres during the UN Security Council open debate, April 2025; reporting via Xinhua News Agency.
