António Guterres on Israel

António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, adopts a position on Israel rooted in the consistent application of international law and humanitarian principles, as articulated in various high-level addresses. Following military actions, he has condemned the use of force and subsequent retaliations, citing violations of the UN Charter's prohibition against the threat or use of force against a state's territorial integrity. In one instance, he condemned the massive military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, while also condemning Iran's subsequent attacks across multiple Middle Eastern nations for violating sovereignty. He maintains that there is no alternative to the peaceful settlement of disputes and that lasting peace requires genuine dialogue and negotiations.

His stance often emphasizes the humanitarian impact and the necessity of de-escalation to avoid a wider, uncontrollable conflict with grave consequences for civilians. This is particularly evident following intense escalations, where he calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urges a return to the negotiating table, notably concerning the Iran nuclear programme. While recognizing Israel's legitimate security concerns in certain contexts, he reminds all parties that military operations must comply strictly with international humanitarian law, stressing that civilians and civilian infrastructure must never be targets. Furthermore, he has condemned specific Israeli decisions, such as resuming land registration procedures in the occupied West Bank, which he asserts are contrary to international law.