UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday with an urgent appeal for peace in the Middle East, warning that global stability is under threat.
Guterres said the UN remains “a moral compass, a force for maintaining peace, and a guardian of international law.”
He cautioned that the “pillars of peace and progress” are collapsing under the weight of impunity, pointing to a world where hunger is being used as a weapon and sovereign states are being invaded.
The UN chief said the world is moving toward “multipolarity, which is a positive development,” but emphasized the need for the UN to prevent chaos and ensure “adherence to international law.”
“We see states across the world acting as though the rules of international law do not apply to them, and I affirm that impunity is the root of chaos,” he added.
Turning to Gaza, Guterres warned that the scale of death and destruction “surpasses any other conflict, with hunger used as a weapon and truth being silenced” as the war enters its third year.
Guterres noted that “famine has been declared in Gaza” despite International Court of Justice measures calling for urgent action. “Nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people or the systematic destruction of Gaza,” he affirmed.
Guterres stressed that “the only viable solution for achieving peace in the Middle East is the two-state solution,” calling for “an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and the release of hostages.
Guterres concluded by saying “true security stems from justice and human rights, which are the foundations of peace.”
