By UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stated that Israel’s policies in the occupied West Bank are destroying the chances for a two-state solution with the Palestinians. In a statement delivered by his chief of staff, Courtenay Rattray, during a United Nations Security Council meeting, Guterres expressed concern that Israel is altering the geography of the West Bank through administrative and legal measures. He pointed out that settlement expansion is expected to increase due to significant land seizures in strategic areas and changes to planning, land management, and governance.
“Recent developments are driving a stake through the heart of any prospect for a two-state solution,” Guterres warned. He highlighted the rise in Israeli military raids, arrests of Palestinians, and settler violence in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October. Furthermore, he noted that Israel has taken punitive actions against the Palestinian Authority and legalized five Israeli outposts in the West Bank. These outposts have been part of Israel’s occupation strategy since 1967.
“We must change course. All settlement activity must cease immediately,” Guterres urged.
The UN Secretary-General also reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages. The conflict has resulted in at least 38,794 deaths and 89,364 injuries in Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from the Hamas-led attacks on October 7 stands at approximately 1,139, with dozens of individuals still held captive in Gaza.
