Gaza: To remain an integral part of Palestinian State - Un Chief at Arab Summit | United Nations

Remarks by Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, to the Extraordinary Arab League Summit on the situation in the Middle East/Gaza.

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Secretary-General António Guterres said Gaza “must remain an integral part of an independent, democratic and sovereign Palestinian State — with no reductions in its territory or forced transfer of its population.”

Speaking at the emergency summit of Arab nations on the situation in the Middle East and Gaza reconstruction in Cairo, Guterres welcomed Arab-led efforts to mobilize support for Gaza’s recovery.

He said, “Palestinians in Gaza have suffered beyond measure. And the risk of even greater devastation looms. This Summit is an important signal that the world has a collective responsibility to support efforts to end this war, relieve profound human suffering and secure lasting peace.”

The Secretary-General stressed that “we must avoid at all costs the resumption of hostilities that would plunge the millions back into an abyss of suffering and further destabilize the region.” The territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Lebanon and Syria, he added, “must be respected.”

He stressed that rebuilding the war-ravaged territory must be guided by principles that respect international law and prevent further cycles of violence.

Guterres said, “ending the immediate crisis is not enough. We need a clear political framework that lays the foundation for Gaza’s recovery, reconstruction and lasting stability. That framework must be based on principles and respect for international law.”

He emphasized that “Israel’s legitimate security concerns must be addressed, but that should not be through long-term Israeli military presence in Gaza.”

The Secretary-General said, “reconstruction requires governance and security arrangements that can help guarantee a brighter, more stable future for Palestinians and Israelis alike,” and highlighted “the critical role” of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) “that continues to deliver in the most difficult circumstances.”

Beyond Gaza, he said, “we see an alarming situation unfolding in the West Bank” and added that “Israeli security forces have launched large-scale operations, including airstrikes and also the deployment of tanks for the first time in over two decades.”

Guterres said, “over 40,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced in the last month — the largest displacement in the West Bank in decades. Meanwhile, demolitions, evictions and settlement expansions continue, while settler violence is on the rise. All of this is further weakening the Palestinian Authority at a time when its role is more crucial than ever. I call for urgent de-escalation. Unilateral actions, including settlement expansion and threats of annexation, must stop.”

He said, “the Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves, to chart their own future, and to live on their land in freedom and security. There must be irreversible steps now toward the realization of the two-State solution — before it’s too late. The only path to lasting peace is one where two states — Israel and Palestine — live side-by-side in peace and security, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.”

The war in Gaza has left an unprecedented level of destruction, with an estimated 51 million tons of rubble blanketing the landscape where bustling neighborhoods once thrived.

According to a new UN damage and needs assessment report, over 60 percent of homes – amounting to some 292,000 – and 65 percent of roads have been destroyed, across the approximately 360 square kilometer enclave.

UN agencies along with partners, including the World Bank, estimate that $53 billion will be needed for recovery and reconstruction.