GENEVA: The United Nations has urged the international community to take decisive steps towards a two-state solution to the longstanding Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Speaking on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the UN office in Geneva, delivered a speech on behalf of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The statement emphasized the need for Israel and Palestine to exist side by side.
Israeli Brutalities Against Palestinians in Gaza
The call for a two-state solution comes at a critical time, following the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas. In response, Israel initiated a brutal military offensive in Gaza, leading to a staggering over 15,000 deaths of Palestinian people.
A two-state agreement would entail the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel. Israel has insisted on the demilitarization of a Palestinian state to ensure its security. Palestinians, on the other hand, seek East Jerusalem, including sites sacred to Muslims as the capital of their state. The ongoing conflict has reignited discussions on the urgency of supporting a two-state solution.
Ibrahim Khraishi, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN in Geneva, highlighted the current conflict as a wake-up call for the international community to rally behind the two-state solution. He emphasized that while challenges exist, the realization of a two-state solution is still possible with the right commitment.
