Guterres: Israel's Opposition to Two-State Solution Makes Extremists Bolder Worldwide

Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, stated on Tuesday, January 23, during a meeting of foreign ministers from member countries of the Security Council, that the Israeli government's opposition to a two-state solution to end the conflict with the Palestinians is unacceptable. According to Reuters, he warned that such a position emboldens extremists around the world. The UN Secretary-General pointed out that 'the entire population of Gaza is enduring destruction on a scale and speed unprecedented in contemporary history,' emphasizing that 'nothing can justify the collective punishment of Palestinian civilians.' Earlier, Guterres had said at a Non-Aligned Movement summit: 'The right of the Palestinian people to establish their own state must be recognized by all, and the refusal to accept a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians and the denial of the right to a state for the Palestinian people is unacceptable.' Meanwhile, Riyad al-Maliki, the foreign minister of the Palestinian Authority, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being 'driven by one goal, namely his political survival at the expense of the survival of millions of Palestinians under Israel's illegal occupation.' In response, Gilad Erdan, Israel's ambassador, emphasized the need to hold the militant group Hamas accountable, stating that Israel opposes the continued rule of this group in Gaza. He also harshly criticized the presence of Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the foreign minister of the Islamic Republic, at the Security Council meeting, saying, 'How absurd it is that the foreign minister of the number one state sponsor of terrorism, which seeks to destabilize the Middle East, is here.' Gilad Erdan sarcastically referred to Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, asking, 'Can you imagine Hitler's foreign minister participating in a serious discussion about how to defend Jews during the Holocaust?' The Israeli ambassador noted that the Islamic Republic supports Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, exacerbating regional tensions. In response, the Iranian foreign minister rejected the idea of 'the complete destruction of Hamas,' emphasizing the situation in Gaza as key to regional security. Reports indicate that the Middle East is a powder keg, and Guterres reiterated the need for the recognition of Palestinians' right to establish their own state by all. He also stated that both sides in the Gaza conflict are violating the Geneva Conventions.