UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday that the Palestinian people have the right to dignity, justice, and self-determination, calling the establishment of a Palestinian state a legitimate right under international law.

Speaking at a meeting marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Guterres repeated his call to end the illegal occupation of Palestinian land, as affirmed by the International Court of Justice and the UN General Assembly. He again emphasized the need for irreversible progress toward a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders based on the pre-1967 lines, and Jerusalem serving as the capital of both states.

Guterres highlighted the heavy toll of Israeli military operations on Gaza over the past two years, noting that more than 70,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands injured. He said widespread destruction of infrastructure has contributed to hunger, disease, and severe psychological trauma among the population.

He also pointed to ongoing hardships in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, citing Israeli military raids, settler violence, settlement expansion, evictions, and demolitions.

The UN chief described the October ceasefire agreement in Gaza as a rare moment of hope and urged all parties to fully implement it and move to the next stage. He thanked Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States for their mediation efforts.

Guterres stressed the urgent need for unhindered humanitarian aid to Gaza and reiterated Israel’s obligations under the ICJ’s recent advisory opinion. He called on UN member states to meet the $4 billion emergency appeal for the occupied Palestinian territories.

The Secretary-General underscored the essential role of UNRWA and urged the international community to continue supporting its operations. He said more journalists have been killed in the past two years—mostly Palestinians—than in any conflict since World War II, and humanitarian workers, including UNRWA staff, were heavily affected as well.

Guterres concluded by reaffirming the UN’s commitment to the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination and urged the international community to translate expressions of solidarity into concrete action. (ILKHA)