United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned Israel’s massacre of Palestinian civilians in Gaza as “heartbreaking”, adding it was unacceptable for the Jewish state to oppose Palestinian independence.
“Israel’s military operations have spread mass destruction and killed civilians on a scale unprecedented during my time as secretary-general,” Guterres said at the opening of a G77+China summit in Kampala. “This is heartbreaking and utterly unacceptable. The Middle East is a tinder-box, we must do all we can to prevent conflict from igniting across the region.”
Denying Palestinians the right to statehood “would indefinitely prolong a conflict that has become a major threat to global peace and security,” Guterres continued, calling for acceptance of the two-state solution. He also reiterated his appeals for a “humanitarian cease-fire to alleviate the suffering in Gaza, enable humanitarian aid to reach everyone in need, and facilitate the immediate and unconditional release of hostages.”
Guterres was in Uganda’s capital to attend the G77+China and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summits, which drew leaders and senior officials from dozens of nations, including South Africa, Iran, China, Turkey, Cuba, India, and Vietnam.
So far, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly opposed a two-state solution, despite U.S. President Joe Biden’s suggestion that the option is still viable while the right-wing leader is in office.
