UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged world leaders to take “urgent, concrete, and irreversible” steps toward a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict. “Statehood is a right for Palestinians, not a reward,” he said, warning that denying this right only fuels extremism.

Guterres welcomed recent measures to ease humanitarian restrictions but stressed the need for a “permanent ceasefire, immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian access.” He also reaffirmed the UN’s stance that Israeli occupation remains illegal.