DaysofPal — UN Secretary-General António Guterres said Tuesday the Palestinian people have the right to dignity, justice, and self-determination like any other nation, reiterating that statehood is their right and renewing his call to end the “unlawful” occupation of Palestinian territory.
Speaking at a special meeting marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Guterres cited the devastation in Gaza over the past two years, saying the Israeli genocidal war offensive has killed more than 70,000 people, injured hundreds of thousands and brought near-total destruction of infrastructure, while hunger, disease and psychological trauma have spread widely.
He added that Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have faced “indescribable hardship” amid Israeli military operations, settler violence, settlement expansion, evictions and demolitions.
Guterres said the ceasefire agreed in October offers a “glimmer of hope,” calling the UN Security Council’s resolution on Gaza an important step toward consolidating it.
He thanked mediators, particularly Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the United States, and urged all parties to fully comply and “move swiftly to the next phase,” translating diplomatic momentum into urgent, tangible progress on the ground.
“Life-saving humanitarian aid must enter Gaza unimpeded and at scale,” he said, noting that the Israeli obligations are clear as outlined in the International Court of Justice’s recent advisory opinion.
He urged UN member states to meet the $4 billion funding target for the occupied Palestinian territory’s emergency appeal.
The secretary-general stressed that UNRWA remains a lifeline for millions of Palestinians and must be supported in the West Bank, in Gaza, and in its work with refugees across the region.
Guterres also noted that more journalists have been killed over the past two years than in any conflict since World War II, the vast majority of them Palestinians.
He said the war has likewise claimed a record number of humanitarian workers, most of them UNRWA staff and again mostly Palestinians. “Delivering justice for Palestine means upholding rights and the rule of law everywhere,” he said.
He concluded that the United Nations “will never retreat” from its commitment to the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.
“On this International Day of Solidarity, let us turn hope into action, and help the olive tree grow again,” he said.
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