He told Arab News: “My worst frustration is to see suffering at such a large scale and to know that I haven’t the power to stop it. But it’s a reality: I haven’t the power to stop it.”
He added: “I can raise my voice, and I do it. I can sometimes convene, but people need to be willing to be convened.
“But the biggest frustration I have is not to have the power to end this conflict, or at least to create the conditions for people to respect international law and international humanitarian law.”
Speaking at his annual press conference to highlight his agenda priorities for this year, Guterres warned that a “gigantic tragedy” could happen in Rafah if Israel follows through on its intent to expand its offensive into the southern town where over 1 million Palestinians are sheltering.
“Half of Gaza’s population is now crammed into Rafah. They have nowhere to go. They have no homes, and they have no hope,” he said, again calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and the need for “real, visible, concrete steps” towards a two-state solution.
He voiced his disagreement “with the policies of the government of Israel, with the settlements, and with a number of other initiatives that have undermined the two-state solution.
“And I’ve also expressed my opinion that the way the military operations have been conducted in Gaza has been with the absolutely unacceptable excess of people being killed, and the destruction.”
He added: “I’ll always be a strong supporter of the right of Israel to live in peace and security. I’ve always been a committed fighter against antisemitism.
“But I’m also totally committed to work for the Palestinians to be able to have their own state and to have their self-determination recognized, and to the end of occupation.”
Guterres sent a message to the people of Gaza of “total solidarity with the horrible suffering,” and “total commitment to do everything to mobilize the UN system to provide the possible assistance we can provide, and at the same time to go on with a very active global advocacy for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to take place.”
The press conference came at a time when Qatar has been working with the US and Egypt to broker a ceasefire that would involve a halt in fighting for several weeks, and the release of the more than 100 hostages still held by Hamas after its Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.
Guterres said it is in the interest of everybody, “and in the particular interest of the government of Israel,” to make sure that these negotiations are successful, reiterating that “the quest of liberation of hostages is absolutely essential from a human point of view. I know the suffering that’s related to that.”
As he has done repeatedly in the past five months, Guterres again condemned the “horrible terror attacks” of Oct. 7 by Hamas, but he also described Israel’s response as amounting to collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza.
“Israeli leaders have been telling repeatedly they aren’t fighting the Palestinian people, they’re fighting Hamas.
“If that’s the case, I can’t understand how this is conducted in such a way that has led in Gaza to reportedly around 28,000 people killed, 75 percent of the population displaced, and the destruction of entire neighborhoods … I think there’s something wrong in the way the military operations have been conducted.”
Asked whether Hamas, in allegedly using civilians as human shields, bears responsibility for the high death toll, Guterres said: “I’ve condemned the use of human shields. I even said they’re a violation of international humanitarian law.
“But the same international humanitarian law is clear that even when there are human shields, there’s an obligation to protect civilians.
“So in that regard, I think we’re abiding by principles without double standards. And I think it’s very important to be credible, not to have double standards.”
On Jan. 26, in a case brought by South Africa, the International Court of Justice issued what it called emergency measures.
Although the ICJ did not uphold South Africa’s request to order Israel to immediately halt its operations in Gaza, it did instruct Israel to prevent its military from committing acts that might be considered genocidal, to prevent and punish incitement to genocide, and to enable humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. The court also ruled that it had the legal right to proceed with the genocide case.
Guterres expressed his “full support” for the ICJ, and said it is the right entity to pronounce itself on these issues.
“We fully support the decisions of the International Court of Justice, and (it) is absolutely essential that all the (court’s) decisions are implemented,” he added.
Guterres said while it is true that the US is an ally to Israel, “and that has been said time and time again by all leaders in the US and Israel,” it is also true, “and can testify it myself, that there has been a lot of pressure by the United States in relation to Israel in different areas of humanitarian aid.
“I remember several phone calls (from) President (Joe) Biden to Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu to solve problems that we have on the ground and couldn’t solve by ourselves.
“And I can also testify that there has been a clear pressure from the United States in order for full respect of international humanitarian law.”
On whether Washington is using its leverage strongly enough to get Israel to comply with international demands, Guterres said: “I sincerely don’t know what’s exactly in their power.”
The UN chief warned Israel that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘s rejection of a two-state solution will indefinitely prolong a conflict that is threatening global peace and emboldening extremists everywhere.
In his toughest language yet on the Israeli-Hamas war, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council that “the right of the Palestinian people to build their own fully independent state must be recognized by all, and a refusal to accept the two-state solution by any party must be firmly rejected.”
The alternative of a one-state solution “with such a large number of Palestinians inside without any real sense of freedom, rights and dignity … will be inconceivable,” he said.
Guterres also warned that the risks of regional escalation of the conflict “are now becoming a reality,” pointing to Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Pakistan. He urged all parties “to step back from the brink and to consider the horrendous costs” of a wider war.
Netanyahu’s rejection of a Palestinian state in any postwar scenario opened a wide rift with Israel’s closest ally, the US, which says the war must lead to negotiations for a two-state solution where Israel and the Palestinians can live side-by-side in peace. That goal is supported by countries around the world, as ministers and ambassadors reiterated Tuesday.
Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji told the council: “How can this tragedy continue with no serious action to bring an end to it and with no measures to halt the carnage and collective punishment against defenseless civilians in Gaza.”
Elkhereiji told the council that a lasting solution was the only way to ensure peace and regional stability.
“Any measure for regional security or to prevent threats cannot replace a resolution of the root causes the crisis in Palestine and finding a lasting solution,” he said. “You must act to ensure an immediate ceasefire and to restore peace to alleviate suffering and to allow the Palestinian people to safeguard their dignity and their legitimate rights.”
“This peace which we so desire must go via a credible, irreversible path toward creating an independent Palestine state which safeguards the dignity of the Palestinian people, allowing for their coexistence and common security as well as for stability and development for all.”
The health ministry said that at least 25,000 civilians have been killed, mostly children and women, as Israel continues to pound the densely populated Gaza Strip in its campaign to eradicate Hamas, after the group attacked settlements near the enclave killing 1,200.
“We categorically reject violations of international humanitarian law by any parties, in any circumstances. We condemn targeting of civilians and call upon this Council to adopt firm position to oblige Israel to respect international law and bring an end to this suffering.”
He also warned of the dangers of military escalation in the region and its impact of security and stability.
“Military operations in the Red Sea and the Yemeni republic are a source of concern. The necessary measure therefore must be taken to contain incidences and repercussions of this crisis, which is affecting neighboring countries and international peace and security.”
United Arab Emirates’ ambassador to the UN, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, told the council: “We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. The overwhelming majority of the international community has called for this, repeatedly. It is time for the minority view to stop obstructing it from happening.”
She added: “The humanitarian imperative at this moment must be our top priority, in addition to the ceasefire, so that life-saving aid can enter at scale, and hostages can be allowed out and returned to their families safely.”
Pakistan said Israel’s actions in Gaza were genocidal and called for greater recognition of Palestine.
“It is time to admit Palestine as a full member of the United Nations,” said. Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN.
Uzra Zeya, the State Department’s under secretary for civilian security, democracy and human rights, told the council, “A key component of US diplomacy is to pursue a pathway both to a Palestinian state and normalization and integration between Israel and other regional states.”
“The goal is a future where Gaza is never again used as a platform for terror, and a future where Palestinians have a state of their own,” she said, reiterating the Biden administration’s call on Israel to do more to protect Palestinian civilians.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov countered that American diplomacy “oscillates between vetoing resolutions about the ceasefire and at the same time calling for a reduction in the intensity of hostilities in Gaza.”
“Without a doubt this serves as carte blanche for the ongoing collective punishment of Palestinians,” Lavrov told the council.
Secretary-general Guterres repeated his longstanding call for a humanitarian ceasefire — an appeal with overwhelming global support.
But Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan again rejected a ceasefire, saying Hamas, which carried out a brutal attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, is committed to attacking again and destroying Israel, and a halt to fighting will only allow the militants “to regroup and rearm.”
He urged the Security Council to “eliminate the root” of the conflict, which he said was Iran.
Erdan strongly criticized the presence of Iran’s foreign minister at the council meeting, saying the country provides weapons to Hamas, to Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon and Houthi militants in Yemen, “and soon these acts will be carried out under a nuclear umbrella” and “Iran’s terror will reach all of you.”
Iran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons and insists its nuclear program is entirely for peaceful purposes. But the UN nuclear watchdog has warned that Iran has enough enriched uranium for nuclear bombs if it chose to build them.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian didn’t mention its nuclear program, but he warned Israel that it would not destroy Hamas, its stated goal.
“The killing of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank cannot continue on to the so-called total destruction of Hamas, because that time will never come,” he said. “Stopping the genocide in Gaza is the main key to security in the region.”
Riyad Al-Maliki, the Palestinian foreign minister, said Israel is carrying out “the most savage bombing campaign” since World War II, which is leading to famine and the massive displacement of civilians. “This is an assault of atrocities,” which has destroyed countless innocent lives, he said.
Al-Maliki said Israel doesn’t see the Palestinians as a people and a “political reality to coexist with, but as a demographic threat to get rid of through death, displacement or subjugation.” He said those are the choices Israel has offered Palestinians, calling them tantamount to “genocide, ethnic cleansing or apartheid.”
Al-Maliki said there are only two future paths: One starts with Palestinian freedom and leads to Mideast peace and security, and the other denies freedom and “dooms our region to further bloodshed and endless conflict.”
France’s new foreign minister, Stéphane Séjourné, whose country holds the council presidency this month, presided at the meeting and warned that “a regional conflagration is real.”
He said the world should unite and deliver different messages to the warring parties.
Israel must be told that “there must be a Palestinian state” and that violence against Palestinians, including by West Bank settlers, must end, Séjourné said. And the Palestinians must be told that “There can be no ambiguity regarding Israel’s right to live in peace and security, and to exercise its right to self-defense against terrorism.”
But Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the argument that the war is about providing security for Israel “is far from being convincing.” He said supporters of this view never talk about the Palestinians’ right to security and self-defense.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the “ideology of hate embraced openly by Israeli ministers is normalizing the mass murder of Palestinians” and urged the council to stop it with a binding resolution.
Israel must be held accountable for war crimes and for blocking a Palestinian state, Safadi said. “The future of the region cannot be taken hostage to the political ambitions and the radical agendas of Israeli extremists who described the Palestinians as human animals, unworthy of life, who enable settler terrorism against Palestinian people.”
