UNRWA Education Center in Gaza. UN Secretary General: Peace in the Middle East is only possible if Palestinian rights are respected Peace and security
The peace process in the Middle East is at a fork in the road, and 2026 could either bring the parties closer to a settlement or lead to a further deepening of the crisis. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued this warning on Tuesday at the opening of the session of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
He recalled that for decades the Committee has defended the fundamental rights of Palestinians, including the right to self-determination.
The New York Declaration adopted by the General Assembly last year offers a practical path to a two-state solution, the UN chief said. However, the situation on the ground remains decisive.
Gaza: fragile calm and humanitarian crisis
The Secretary-General noted that, despite the agreements reached in October, violence in Gaza continues.
“I call on all parties to fully implement the agreement, exercise maximum restraint and respect international law and UN resolutions,” Guterres said.
“I also call for rapid and unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance on the required scale, including through the Rafah crossing,” he added.
The UN chief stressed that restrictions on the activities of humanitarian organizations only exacerbate the suffering of civilians. He also noted that a sustainable settlement is impossible without unified governance of the Palestinian territories by a recognized government. The Secretary-General expressed serious concern about the situation in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli settlements, forced displacement and demolitions of Palestinian homes are on the rise. Of particular concern are plans to build in the E1 area, which would sever communications between the northern and southern parts of the West Bank and would deal a “serious blow to the viability of the two-state solution.”
The UN head recalled that, as the International Court of Justice previously indicated, such actions are illegal.
UNRWA support
Guterres reaffirmed the critical role of the United Nations Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in providing support to the Palestinians and strongly condemned actions against the agency, including the demolition of the agency’s building in East Jerusalem.
“UNRWA facilities are United Nations facilities. They are inviolable and immune from any form of interference,” he said.
The only way is two states
According to the head of the UN, the work of the Committee reminds that the world community should not lose sight of the goal – resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“The occupation must end, as confirmed by the International Court. The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people must be realized. International law must be respected, and responsibility – to be ensured. The unity, territorial integrity and continuity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory must be preserved,” the Secretary General said.
Guterres stressed that there is no alternative to a political solution: “There is only one viable path: a two-state solution in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.” The Secretary-General concluded by calling on Member States to take decisive and concerted action in support of this goal.