Guterres said, "The world has entered a harsh era of human suffering. The principles of the international organization are under siege, and the foundations of peace and progress are crumbling under the weight of impunity, inequality, and indifference."
He continued, "The United Nations was founded 80 years ago as a practical strategy for the survival of humanity by advocating for peace rather than conflict, but its ability to do this has been stripped away."
Regarding the Israeli war of extermination, Guterres said, "The horrors of Gaza are approaching their third year. They are the result of decisions that defy the most basic principles of humanity, and the scale of death and destruction far exceeds any other conflict we have witnessed during my tenure as Secretary-General."
Guterres stressed that nothing can justify Hamas' attacks on Israeli settlements on October 7, 2023, nor the subsequent collective punishment carried out by Tel Aviv against the Palestinian people and the systematic destruction of Gaza.
Guterres called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the preservation of the two-state solution for sustainable peace in the Middle East.
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Guterres pointed out that the territories of sovereign states are being occupied, hunger is being used as a weapon, and the truth is being suppressed, asking: "Which world will we choose? A world of brute force, or a world of law? A world where the strong are right, or a world where rights are for all?!"
He continued, "The world is becoming increasingly multipolar, which could be positive for a more diverse and dynamic global landscape," but he warned that multipolarity without effective multilateral institutions could also lead to chaos.
He emphasized that the choices facing countries today are "a matter of life and death for millions of people," noting the need to choose peace based on international law. He continued, "We see some countries in the world behaving as if the rules do not apply to them. We see people being treated less than human. We must speak out."
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving 65,382 martyrs and 166,985 wounded, most of them children and women, and a famine that has claimed the lives of 442 Palestinians, including 147 children.
