KAMPALA: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday told the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Uganda that the right of the Palestinian people to build their own state “must be recognized by all.”
Guterres, addressing leaders in the Ugandan capital Kampala, deemed the refusal to accept a two-state solution and the denial of statehood for Palestinians as unacceptable.
“The right of the Palestinian people to build their own state must be recognized by all,” emphasized Guterres, cautioning that a failure to acknowledge this right would prolong the conflict, posing a significant threat to global peace and security. He warned against exacerbating polarization and empowering extremists worldwide.
The ongoing bloodshed in the Palestinian Gaza territory has killed more than 24,927 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Since October 7, Israel has launched bombardment and ground offensive in Gaza turning the Palestinian territory into ruins.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has decried the “inhuman living conditions” in Gaza, with a majority of inhabitants displaced due to Israeli actions. Guterres, on Monday, called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
While the United States, a key supporter of Israel, has reiterated its support for the creation of a Palestinian state, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his opposition to the establishment of a viable Palestinian state. This stance has drawn criticism, even from the United States, highlighting the complex diplomatic landscape surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel Rejects Palestinian Sovereignty in Gaza Strip
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed US President Joe Biden in a phone call that he opposes the idea of Palestinian sovereignty in the Gaza Strip. The conversation between the two leaders took place on Friday.
On Saturday Netanyahu’s office issued a statement, stating that during the call, the Prime Minister reiterated his stance that Israel must maintain security control over Gaza even after the destruction of Hamas. This condition, aimed at preventing future threats to Israel, contradicts the Palestinian demand for sovereignty over the region.
Earlier in the week, Netanyahu had similarly rejected the idea of Palestinian sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, emphasizing Israel’s need for “security control over all the territory west of the (River) Jordan.”
After Friday’s call, Biden suggested that Netanyahu could eventually agree to a two-state solution, a concept long considered by diplomats as a potential path to peace in the Middle East. Biden pointed out that there are various types of two-state solutions, including those where countries lack their own militaries.
Reacting to Biden’s comments, a senior Hamas official, Izzat al-Rishq, dismissed the possibility of Israel agreeing to the establishment of a Palestinian state. In a statement, al-Rishq stated, “The illusion that Biden is preaching about a state of Palestine and its characteristics does not fool our people,” adding that Biden is viewed as a “full partner in the genocidal war,” and the Palestinian people do not expect any positive outcomes from him.
