NEW YORK, April 30 (MENA) - The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said the two-state solution is at risk of fading and that political commitment to this long-term goal is more distant than ever.

During a ministerial meeting held by the UN Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue the UN secretary general said, the Middle East is undergoing fundamental transformations, marked by violence and volatility, but also by opportunity and potential.

According to the UN Information Center Wednesday Guterres said, the Middle East is undergoing fundamental transformations, marked by violence and volatility, but also by opportunity and potential. He said people across the Middle East are demanding the better future they deserve, rather than endless conflict and suffering.

The UN secretary general stressed the need to work collectively to ensure that this turbulent and transitional period meets their aspirations and achieves justice, dignity, rights, security and lasting peace.

Guterres said all would begin with recognizing two fundamental truths: First, that the region stands at a crossroads in history and second that true and sustainable peace in the Middle East hinges on a fundamental issue that the UN Security Council has repeatedly emphasized over decades: the two-state solution, with Al Quds (East Jerusalem) as the capital of both states, living side by side in peace and security.

He said the two-state solution is approaching a point of no return, adding that the rights to live in peace and security have been undermined.

The legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians have been denied, while they endure Israel's continued presence, which the International Court of Justice has ruled illegal, said the UN secretary-general.

The world cannot stand and watch the two-state solution disappear, political leaders face clear choices: silence, acquiescence, or action, Guterres added.

The Secretary-General issued a clear and urgent appeal to member states: "Take irreversible action towards implementing the two-state solution. Do not allow extremists on any side to undermine what remains of the peace process."

Guterres said the high-level conference (on the two-state solution) will be held next June, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, pointing out that it is an important opportunity to revitalize international support. He also urged member states to think creatively about the concrete steps they would take to support a viable two-state solution before it would be too late.

The UN secretary general said the ceasefire had brought a glimmer of hope – the long-awaited release of detainees and the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid, but those opportunities faded with the collapse of the ceasefire on March 18. “Since then, nearly 2,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli airstrikes and military operations – including women, children, journalists, and humanitarian workers,”
he said.

The Secretary-General added that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has "gone from bad to worse, to unimaginable," noting that Israel has, for nearly two months, blocked the entry of food, fuel, medicine, and commercial supplies, depriving more than two million people of life-saving relief. "All this while the world watches," Guterres added.

The Secretary-General voiced concern over statements made by Israeli government officials regarding the use of humanitarian aid as a tool for military pressure. He emphasized that "aid is non-negotiable."

The Secretary-General said that Israeli military operations, the use of heavy weapons in residential areas in the West Bank, forced displacement, demolitions, movement restrictions and the expansion of settlements is significantly altering the demographic and geographic realities.

Guterres explained that Israel - as an occupying power - is obligated to ensure the provision of food and medical supplies to the population and to respect and protect humanitarian and medical personnel and the United Nations.

He emphasized the obligation under international law to respect the privileges and immunities of the UN and its personnel, including the absolute inviolability of UN premises, property and assets - and immunity from UN legal process.

The UN secretary general said, this immunity applies to all UN entities in the occupied Palestinian territories- including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Regarding Lebanon, Guterres stressed the need to respect the ceasefire, territorial integrity and implement all obligations.

As for Syria, he underlined the importance of continued efforts to support the country's progress toward a political transition including all segments of the Syrian people - a transition that would ensure accountability promote national reconciliation and lay the foundation for Syria's long-term recovery and enhance the country's integration into the international community." (MENA)

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