Gaza: A Cascade of Catastrophes Calls for Global Action

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has sounded an alarm over the ongoing situation in Gaza, dubbing it "a cascade of catastrophes" as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict reaches a 'breaking point,' according to a UN News report. Guterres implored global leaders to act before it's too late.

At a high-level UN conference in New York, Guterres stressed that the conflict has evolved from a mere crisis to a collapse of peace efforts. "For decades, Middle East diplomacy has favored process over peace, with a lot of talking but no tangible outcomes," he noted. He also emphasized the urgent need for an end to the occupation and advocated for a two-state solution as the only path to durable peace.

Guterres questioned the alternative to such a solution, highlighting that a one-state reality would lead to Palestinians living under continuous occupation and inequality, which he deemed "neither peace nor justice." According to the UN News report, while condemning the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, Guterres criticized Israel's military response and called for an immediate ceasefire and full humanitarian access to Gaza.

The conference, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia under a UN mandate, convened global leaders, diplomats, and peace advocates over three days to discuss resurrecting peace talks, rebuilding trust, and addressing the humanitarian crisis. Guterres concluded by urging leaders to view peace as a collective responsibility and not merely as a distant dream, but as an achievable reality for all involved.

(With inputs from agencies.)