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GENEVA, Feb. 23 — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that escalating human rights violations and breaches of international law in the Israel-Palestine conflict are steadily undermining prospects for a two-state solution.
Addressing the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council at Geneva’s Palais des Nations, Guterres said the situation in affected Palestinian and Israeli areas reflects what he described as “blatant violations” of human dignity and legal norms. He cautioned that the current trajectory is “stark and purposeful,” adding that the vision of two states living side by side in peace and security is “being stripped away in broad daylight.”
The UN chief stressed that the international community must not allow the erosion of the two-state framework, long endorsed by the United Nations as the basis for resolving the conflict. He urged all countries to uphold obligations under the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and international humanitarian and human rights law.
Guterres also called for broader reforms of global governance institutions to ensure developing nations gain meaningful representation in international financial decision-making. Strengthening inclusive multilateralism, he said, is essential to address contemporary crises and safeguard human rights worldwide.
The 61st session of the Human Rights Council opened Monday in Geneva and will continue through March 31, with discussions focusing on conflict-related rights concerns and global accountability mechanisms.