File photo.
New York: UN Secretary-General H E Antonio Guterres commended the ongoing efforts of the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America to ensure implementation of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
This came in a statement by Guterres during the opening of the latest session of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, at the UN headquarters in New York.
He called for the need to achieve a permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages without delay, and the enhancement of the rapid, safe and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance,.
He also urged Member States to support the essential work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The UN Secretary-General once again urged for adherence to international law, rejecting any form of forced displacement, and emphasised the need for tangible progress towards a two-state solution.
“Any durable peace will require tangible, irreversible and permanent progress towards the two-State solution, an end to the occupation, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, with Gaza as an integral part,” he said.
He insisted that a viable, sovereign Palestinian State living in peace and security is the only sustainable solution for Middle East stability.
