UN secretary-general António Guterres has urged the international community to continue pushing for a full ceasefire and the release of all hostages in Gaza.

He said this at a session of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, which met to elect a new bureau and adopt a programme of work for the year.

The UN chief spoke in the wake of comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday night in the White House, who suggested the U.S. could “take over” the Gaza Strip, calling on Palestinians living there to leave.

Addressing committee members, the secretary-general stated that “at its essence, the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people is about the right of Palestinians to live as human beings in their own land simply.”

He noted, however, that “we have seen the realisation of those rights steadily slip farther out of reach” as well as “a chilling, systematic dehumanisation and demonization of an entire people.”

He stressed that “of course, nothing justifies the horrific Hamas attacks of October 7” or “what we have seen unfold in Gaza over these last many months.”

He pointed to “the catalogue of destruction and unspeakable horrors”, with nearly 50,000 people reportedly killed, mainly women and children, and most of the civilian infrastructure in Gaza destroyed.

Furthermore, the overwhelming majority of the population has faced repeated displacement, hunger and disease, while children have been out of school for over a year – “a generation left homeless and traumatised.”

The secretary-general welcomed the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, announced in January. He thanked mediators Egypt, Qatar and the United States for their continued efforts to ensure implementation.

“Now it is time to be crystal clear about objectives going forward. First, we must keep pushing for a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages without delay. We cannot go back to more death and destruction,” he said.

The UN is working around the clock to reach Palestinians in need and scale up support, he said, which requires humanitarian access that is rapid, safe, unimpeded, expanded, and sustained.

He appealed to member states, donors, and the international community to fully fund humanitarian operations and meet urgent needs. The UN chief also urged countries to support the essential work of UNRWA, the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees.

“In the search for solutions, we must not make the problem worse. It is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law. It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing,” he said.

His third and final point called for reaffirming the two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians.

The secretary-general turned to the situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, voicing grave concern over rising violence by Israeli settlers and other violations.

“The violence must stop,” he said. “As affirmed by the International Court of Justice, Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Territory must end.”

He said the international community must work toward preserving the unity, contiguity, and integrity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza.

A strong and unified Palestinian governance is crucial, and he urged countries to support the Palestinian Authority in this regard.

The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was established some 50 years ago by the UN General Assembly. It comprises 25 member states, with 24 others serving as observers.

(NAN)