UN Secretary-General: Israel must end presence in occupied Palestinian territories.
“We come together at a time when the suffering of the Palestinians has reached a new height and hopes for a just and lasting solution have receded,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres added in a message to the UN-OIC conference on the issue of Jerusalem on Wednesday local time.
“Following the attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on 7 October 2023, which I have unequivocally condemned, the Israeli military operation has created a humanitarian crisis of appalling proportions, a crisis that is worse today than at any other point in this long and brutal crisis,” the UN Secretary-General added.
“The time has come for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The immediate and unconditional release of all hostages in a dignified manner, full, safe and sustainable humanitarian access,” Guterres stressed.
The UN Secretary-General, while stating that the designated role of UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) in supporting Palestinian refugees must be respected, said: “Obligations under international humanitarian law and Security Council resolutions must also be respected.”
Guterres stated: “Meanwhile, the situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is in free fall. This year alone, more than 150 Palestinians, including more than 20 children, have been killed in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in Israeli security forces operations, settler attacks, and other incidents.”
The UN Secretary-General stressed: “Violence by armed Israeli settlers has increased, and many Palestinians have been killed, including sometimes nearby and with the support of Israeli security forces.”
He recalled: “Violence by armed Israeli settlers has increased, and many Palestinians have been killed, including sometimes close and with the support of Israeli security forces.”
Guterres also said that since early 2025, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee due to operations by Israeli security forces, and that illegal settlement expansion, widespread land seizures and demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures continue.
The UN Secretary-General added that Israel’s policies in East Jerusalem, including restrictions on access and worship for Palestinians, are deeply concerning. Jerusalem holds a unique place in the hearts of millions of Muslims, Jews and Christians around the world, and what is happening there – including the ongoing acts of incitement and violence – resonates globally.