NEW YORK – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has thrown his weight behind growing international recognition of a Palestinian state, warning that peace in the Middle East is impossible without a two-state solution.
Speaking Monday at a New York conference on the Middle East organized by France and Saudi Arabia, Guterres said Palestinian statehood is a fundamental right, not a concession.
“Statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward,” he told delegates. “We must recommit ourselves to the two-state solution before it is too late. Without it, there will be no peace in the Middle East.”
His remarks came as momentum builds at the UN General Assembly, where several countries have recently announced their recognition of Palestine despite opposition from Israel and the United States.
Washington and Tel Aviv have argued that granting recognition now would effectively reward Hamas for its October 7, 2023, attacks, which killed over 1,100 people in Israel.
Guterres condemned the Hamas-led assault but stressed that the collective punishment of Palestinians could not be justified.
He called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and full humanitarian access to the besieged enclave.
The UN chief also criticized the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, describing them as a “creeping threat of annexation” and warning of escalating settler violence.
Guterres further expressed regret that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was denied a U.S. visa to attend the meeting, saying it sent the wrong signal at a critical diplomatic moment.
“The denial of Palestinian rights will only fuel extremism,” he cautioned.
The push for Palestinian recognition has gained urgency in recent months, with mass protests across Europe, renewed diplomatic initiatives at the UN, and growing calls from world leaders for a decisive shift in Middle East policy.
