NEW YORK: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has declared that the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state is a fundamental right of the Palestinian people that cannot be ignored.
Addressing the Palestine Conference at the UN General Assembly, Guterres emphasized that the creation of a Palestinian state is “not a gift but a recognized right”, warning that denying this right would only serve as a “reward to extremists.”
Reiterating his support for the two-state solution, he said it remains the only viable path for peace, where two independent and sovereign states can coexist, recognize each other, and become full members of the international community.
The Secretary-General condemned the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, calling it unjustifiable and demanding an immediate halt. “Settlement expansion has no legal or moral justification,” he said, adding that it was destroying the last remaining hopes for peace.
He further urged an immediate ceasefire and called for an end to annexation threats and settler violence, stressing that such actions must stop if regional stability is to be achieved.
The conference is being co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. During the session, Macron formally announced France’s recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state, following similar moves by the UK, Canada, and Australia.
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