UN secretary-general António Guterres has urged world leaders to ensure that the two-state solution prevails for the people of Israel, Palestine, and all humanity.

Mr Guterres made the call at the resumption of the international conference co-chaired with Saudi Arabia and France, which focused on the question of Palestine and the two-state solution with Israel.

The conference, was hosted on Monday ahead of the annual gathering of global leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is morally, legally, and politically intolerable. The nightmare must stop,’’ he said.

The UN chief repeated his assertion that nothing could justify the horrific October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel nor the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

He again called for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and safe, unconditional and unhindered humanitarian access, which must all happen immediately.

The UN chief added that nothing could excuse developments in the West Bank that pose an existential threat to a two-State solution and called for an end to “relentless” settlement expansion, “the creeping threat of annexation” and intensifying settler violence.

“We must recommit ourselves to the Two-State solution before it is too late,” he warned. “Let’s be clear: Statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward. And denying statehood would be a gift to extremists everywhere. Without two states, there will be no peace in the Middle East, and radicalism will spread around the world.”

Also speaking, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock insisted that the two-state solution is the only way to ensure that future generations of both Palestinians and Israelis can live in peace, security, and dignity.

“We know that some think this is a naïve wish” as the first resolution on the matter “is almost as old as this organisation,” she said.

To those who point to decades of failure, she emphasised that not aiming for what is right means that “evil would prevail” and be “the end of this institution”.

BMs aerbock said the international community is not only committed to the two-state solution but “identifying tangible, timebound and irreversible steps for its realisation”, and willing to take decisive measures and provide international guarantees.

(NAN)