United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the ongoing devastation in Gaza as “a cascade of catastrophes,” stating that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has reached “a breaking point,” according to a UN News report.
He urged global leaders to take action before it’s too late.
Speaking at a high-level UN conference in New York, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict has gone beyond a crisis — it now represents a collapse of peace efforts.
“The peace process has long been defined by dialogue without results,” Guterres said at the International Conference on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, as reported by UN News.
“For decades, Middle East diplomacy has been more about process than actual peace. Words, speeches, and declarations mean little to people on the ground — they’ve heard it all before. Meanwhile, destruction and annexation continue unchecked,” he added.
Guterres reiterated the urgent need to end the occupation and called for renewed international support for a two-state solution, which he stressed remains the only viable path to lasting peace.
“What is the alternative? A one-state reality where Palestinians are denied equal rights, live under ongoing occupation and inequality, or are expelled from their land? That is not peace. That is not justice. And it is not acceptable,” he declared.
According to the UN News report, Guterres reaffirmed his support for two independent and democratic states — Israel and Palestine — living side by side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as their shared capital. However, he warned that this vision is slipping further out of reach.
“The truth is, we are at a breaking point,” he said. “This conflict has persisted for generations, defying hope, diplomacy, international resolutions, and the rule of law.”
While condemning the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, Guterres also criticized Israel’s military response.
“Gaza has descended into a cascade of catastrophes. Tens of thousands have died. The population has been displaced multiple times. Starvation looms over nearly everyone,” he stated.
He called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and full humanitarian access to Gaza.
“These are not preconditions for peace. They are the foundation of peace,” he said.
Guterres urged the international community to act urgently and decisively.
“This conflict cannot simply be managed — it must be resolved. We cannot wait for perfect conditions. We must create them,” he emphasized.
“We must act before it’s too late.”
The three-day conference, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia under a UN General Assembly mandate, brought together global leaders, diplomats, and peace advocates to explore ways to restart peace talks, rebuild trust, and respond to the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Guterres concluded his address by urging leaders to treat peace not as a distant dream, but as a shared responsibility:
“A reality — for Palestinians, for Israelis, for the people of the Middle East, and for the world.” (Agencies)
