New York, Feb 3 (Petra) - UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized Tuesday that the two-state solution remains the only feasible way to achieve a just and lasting peace.

Speaking at the opening session of the committee on the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people for this year, Guterres stressed that the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination a fundamental reality that must be upheld and respected.

He noted that the New York Declaration and the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution provide clear platforms and pathways for progress, highlighting that the key objective is "lasting change on the ground." Guterres drew attention to the severe suffering faced by Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 500 people have been killed since last October. He also warned of the accelerating pace of settlement expansion and demolitions, revealing that over 37,000 Palestinians were displaced in 2025 alone a year marked by record levels of settler violence.

He expressed deep concern over Israel’s tender to build 3,401 housing units in the "E1" area, noting that its implementation would separate northern and southern West Bank regions and undermine territorial contiguity for Palestinians.

The Secretary-General cited the International Court of Justice’s opinion deeming Israel’s presence in the occupied territories "illegal," expressing "deep concern" over Human Rights Commission reports documenting entrenched racial discrimination in Israel’s administration of the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

//Petra// AF