UN Warns of Deepening Palestinian Crisis, Urges Push for Peace
The United Nations (UN) has renewed its appeal for global action to secure justice, dignity and statehood for the Palestinian people, describing the humanitarian and political crisis of the past two years as “beyond comprehension.”
The message was delivered on behalf of Secretary-General António Guterres by his Chef de Cabinet, Mr. Earle Courtenay Rattray, during a special meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in New York.
“Gaza lies in ruins”
The Secretary-General painted a devastating picture of the situation in Gaza, where months of conflict have left entire neighbourhoods flattened and basic services collapsed.
“Hunger, disease and trauma run rampant. Schools, homes and hospitals lie shattered,” the statement said, adding that tens of thousands of Palestinians mostly women and children have lost their lives.
He noted that the suffering extends beyond Gaza, highlighting the severe hardship in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, where Palestinians continue to face military operations, settler violence, evictions and demolitions.
Ceasefire offers “glimmers of hope”
The Secretary-General welcomed the October ceasefire agreement and the latest Security Council resolution on Gaza, describing them as important steps toward de-escalation. He praised the mediation efforts led by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye and the United States and urged all parties involved to fully implement the agreements and swiftly progress to the next phase.
He stressed the need for unobstructed, large-scale humanitarian access, reminding Member States that Israel’s obligations had been clearly outlined by the International Court of Justice.
He also called for urgent global support for the $4 billion UN Flash Appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
UNRWA called a “lifeline” amid unprecedented loss
The Secretary-General reaffirmed strong support for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which he described as “a lifeline for millions of Palestinians.”
He noted the staggering toll on humanitarian workers themselves:
More UN staff have been killed in the conflict than at any point in the organisation’s history — the vast majority of them Palestinians.
A call for statehood and end to occupation
Reiterating the UN’s long-standing position, the Secretary-General said Palestinian statehood is not a favour, but “a right.”
He called for an end to the unlawful occupation and for irreversible progress toward a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
“Israel and Palestine must live side by side in peace and security within their secure and recognized borders,” the message stated.
The olive tree symbol “trampled”
In one of the most symbolic moments of the address, the Secretary-General compared recent attacks on Palestinian olive farmers to the destruction of a universal emblem of peace.
“This symbol of peace — native to the Middle East and featured on the UN flag itself — has been trampled,” he said, noting that many attacks in the West Bank targeted Palestinians harvesting olives.
Standing up for global norms
The Secretary-General warned that the conflict has severely tested international norms.
More journalists have been killed than in any conflict since the Second World War — most of them Palestinians. And more humanitarian workers have died than at any time in UN history.
“To deliver justice for Palestine is to stand up for rights and laws everywhere,” he said.
Hope must become action
Closing his message, the Secretary-General appealed to governments, civil society, faith leaders and citizens across the world to raise their voices and push for peace.
“Hope can become reality,” he said. “Hope that children in Palestine and Israel will wake to a world without fear. Hope that two peoples will live side by side in peace.”
He called on the international community to help the “olive tree grow once more” — for justice, humanity and peace.
