Portrait of António Guterres
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António Guterres on Palestine

Two-State solution advocate (strong)

TL;DR

António Guterres advocates for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and an irreversible, two-State solution based on international law.

Key Points

  • He called for an end to the unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory, affirmed by the International Court of Justice, in his November 2025 message.

  • He welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage release agreement in October 2025, calling it a desperately needed breakthrough brokered by diplomatic efforts.

  • The Secretary-General stated that a future State of Palestine must be a disarmed state, with no room for armed movements within it, in line with the Palestinian Authority's agreement.

Summary

António Guterres's core position regarding Palestine is an unyielding commitment to the two-State solution as the only viable path to a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians. He has repeatedly condemned the horrific October attacks by Hamas and the subsequent massive destruction in Gaza, characterizing the scale of civilian killing and humanitarian obstruction as an intolerable reality. The Secretary-General stresses that the occupation of Palestinian territory must end, aligning with the affirmation by the International Court of Justice, and he strongly supports the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and statehood. He welcomes measures by member states to recognize the State of Palestine, noting it is a right, not a reward.

He consistently calls for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the scaling up of life-saving humanitarian aid into Gaza. Furthermore, the Secretary-General views actions in the occupied West Bank, such as relentless illegal settlement expansion, demolitions, and settler violence, as profoundly alarming developments that threaten territorial contiguity and the viability of a two-State outcome. He affirms that any sustainable solution for Gaza must result in it being governed by a unified, legitimate Palestinian Government, remaining an integral part of the future Palestinian State. The failure of the Security Council due to geopolitical divides is a source of frustration, but he remains determined to promote peace processes, viewing the two-State framework as the essential alternative to extremism and perpetual conflict.

Frequently Asked Questions

António Guterres strongly advocates that the two-State solution is the only viable path to a just and lasting peace. He insists that this solution must be based on international law and relevant UN resolutions, involving two independent, sovereign States living side-by-side within secure borders based on pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both.

The Secretary-General has repeatedly described the reality in Gaza as horrendous, citing the massive civilian death toll, destruction, and dramatic obstacles to humanitarian aid distribution. He calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to stop the bloodshed and ensure life-saving aid can enter Gaza at scale.

Yes, António Guterres welcomes measures by Member States to recognize the State of Palestine, viewing such recognition as a gift to the Palestinian people and essential to reaffirming their right to self-determination. He notes that the State of Palestine is already recognized by the UN General Assembly as an observer State.