At the Baghdad Summit, Guterres calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and to find political solutions to the region’s crises

He reaffirmed that “nothing justifies the heinous terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas on the seventh of October. Nothing justifies the collective punishment that is practicing on the Palestinian people.”

He expressed his alarm about the reports that Israel intends to expand the scope of land operations and more, stressing that the United Nations will not participate in any process of providing aid that does not comply with international law and the principles of humanitarian action represented in humanity, integrity, independence, and neutrality.

The Secretary -General renewed his appeal to provide urgent and complete support for the work of UNRWA, including financial support, rejecting “the frequent displacement of the residents of Gaza – and any thinking of their forced displacement outside Gaza.” He also called for not to ignore the “terrible conditions” in the occupied West Bank, and he went on, saying:

“Let us be clear: the annexation of land is an illegal work. The settlements are illegal. The solution of the two countries is the only way to achieve sustainable peace: that is, that Israel and Palestine live alongside peace and security and take Jerusalem as the capital of the two countries, in line with the United Nations resolutions and what is stipulated in international law and previous agreements.”

The responsibility of the international community

The Secretary -General referred to the high -level conference on the two -state solution to be held in June – headed by a joint presidency of France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – considering it “an important opportunity.”

He warned that “the world and the region – and most importantly, are the people of Palestine and Israel – they cannot see the two -state solution fading before our eyes,” stressing that the international community bears a great responsibility at this decisive moment.

Majorea

By moving to Lebanon, Guterres stressed the importance of respecting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stressed the need for the Lebanese government to extend its full control over all Lebanese lands. He welcomed the commitment announced by Lebanese officials to ensure that the weapon would be in the hands of the state only. He also encouraged to continue making progress on the path of reforms. He also encouraged efforts to deploy the Lebanese armed forces to southern Lebanon, with the support of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

On the Syrian issue, the Secretary -General stressed the importance of “guaranteeing sovereignty, independence, unity and land integrity”, calling for a comprehensive political process to support for all led by the Syrians and hold their reins, based on the main principles of Security Council Resolution 2254.

He stressed the need for this process to preserve the rights of all Syrians and ensure their participation regardless of their ethnic origin or their religion and ensure their protection, noting that this is the way to a future that peace prevails and the Syrians enjoy independence and democracy, and to an economic recovery achieved in conjunction with the lifting of sanctions.

Other regional crises

In the context of other regional crises, Guterres dealt with the situation in Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Libya.

In Yemen, The Secretary -General said that the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea caused significant damage to regional and global economies, stressing the need for the path of violence to stop. He said that the United Nations is working to reach a negotiating political settlement with a Yemeni leadership.

In this regard, he welcomed the Sultanate of Oman’s announcement on the sixth of May that the United States and the Houthis will stop hostilities. He also called for the need to release the United Nations and others who have been arbitrarily arrested.

And on SudanHe said that cooperation is multilateral, renewed and coordinated, characterized by its great importance in order to help stop the horrific violence, famine and collective displacement. He expressed his deep gratitude to the League of Arab States and the African Union for “the excellent coordination meeting that we were able to hold yesterday.” I praise the efforts made by the League of Arab States to enhance multilateral coordination.

In Libya, The Secretary -General said that the United Nations is actively working with national and international actors to preserve the independence of the main control institutions, overcoming obstacles that prevent national elections, and determining the path leading to stability and prosperity in the long term – in a way that meets the needs and aspirations of the Libyan people.

And in Somalia, The Secretary -General said that there is no inevitable unity and dialogue for all, stressing that the assistance provided by Somalia partners will be vital in fighting the youth movement and promoting peace and security in the country.

For this reason, Guterres said that he had submitted a recommendation to the Security Council to provide sustainable financing that is predicted by the African Union for Support and Stability in Somalia.

Commitment to support the Iraqi government

The Secretary -General of the United Nations praised the progress made by Iraq in terms of strengthening institutions, resolving unlimited disputes through dialogue, providing humanitarian aid, and promoting sustainable development and human rights. He expressed his hope that a fair solution to all outstanding issues will be reached.

He said that the United Nations Mission to provide assistance to Iraq accompanied Iraq in this course “We are working hard to ensure the implementation of the mission, the remainder of its mandate, and its organized withdrawal by December 31, 2025.” He emphasized the commitment to continue the support of the Iraqi government and its people on the way towards a future that peace, democracy and prosperity pervaded.

The Secretary -General concluded his speech at the summit by saying: “Despite the tremendous challenges, let us extract lessons and derive hope from here in Baghdad. With work in a framework of unity and solidarity, we can help resolve conflicts and build a future that prevails in peace and prosperity. This is the common goal that the League of Arab States and the United Nations shares – and I look forward to continuing to deepen our partnership together.”