PP NEWS LINE DESK : The deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza took center stage at the United Nations, where Secretary-General António Guterres and world leaders urged urgent action to halt the violence and restore regional stability.
Briefing the Security Council, Guterres called the conflict “one of the darkest chapters of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” nearly two years after Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel left more than 1,200 people dead and over 250 taken hostage. He warned that Israel’s military response had reduced Gaza to ruins, with more than 60,000 Palestinians killed, tens of thousands injured, and nearly 1.9 million displaced. “Violence and instability are spreading beyond Gaza, threatening to engulf the region,” he said, while urging renewed commitment to diplomacy and the two-State solution.
Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani condemned a recent Israeli strike that allegedly targeted a Hamas negotiating team in Doha, calling it a violation of sovereignty and “an act of state terrorism.” He warned that such actions jeopardize mediation efforts with Egypt and the United States, stressing the need for a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian access, and the release of hostages.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II described the Gaza conflict as “one of the darkest moments in this institution’s history,” insisting that Palestinians’ rights and dignity must be upheld. “Condemnations alone are not enough. The world must act,” he told the Assembly.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun highlighted the urgency of reviving political dialogue based on international legitimacy and the two-State solution. He noted that 142 nations have already backed the New York Declaration calling for a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian issue.
Despite the grim outlook, Guterres pointed to “a glimmer of hope” with renewed talks on a two-State solution and recent moves by France and the United Kingdom to recognize Palestinian statehood. “We cannot let this fragile moment slip away,” he cautioned, stressing that diplomacy and adherence to international law remain the only path to lasting peace.
