UN chief warns of ‘ethnic cleansing’ in West Bank, condemns Gaza devastation
Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, has issued a strong warning that Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank are creating a serious risk of ethnic cleansing. He also sharply criticized the unprecedented destruction and loss of life in the Gaza Strip.
Mr. Guterres raised these concerns in his speech on the opening day of the general debate at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. He said the scale of killing and destruction seen in Gaza during his time as Secretary General has been completely unprecedented.
Speaking about the overall situation in Gaza and the West Bank, he said the world should not look away from this horrific situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. He warned that rising violence in the West Bank, the displacement of residents and the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements are putting the two state solution under severe threat.
Mr. Guterres said clearly that the world cannot allow the two state solution to collapse before its eyes.
On the broader war situation in the Middle East, the Secretary General said firmly that enough is enough. He noted that temporary calm has been declared many times in the region under the name of ceasefires, but ordinary people keep paying the price in the end.
He also referred to orders from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and called on all parties to follow international law. He repeated his demand that the UN and all humanitarian agencies be allowed to work safely inside Gaza.
Condemning the Hamas attack of October 7, Mr. Guterres said no act of terrorism can justify this kind of collective punishment against Palestinians. He demanded the immediate release of all hostages and unrestricted humanitarian access to the besieged Gaza Strip.
