Guterres Urges UN Security Council to Back Two-State Solution as Middle East Crisis Deepens

Dubai, UAE: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the Middle East is being pulled deeper into crisis. He said the danger now reaches far beyond the region.

He was speaking at a UN Security Council debate on political solutions in the Middle East. He said the past week had brought wider attacks. He said he was deeply concerned that the crisis could trigger a full return to conflict.

Guterres said the fallout was being felt across borders. It was driving displacement and insecurity, he said. It was also raising food and fuel costs. He said the poorest countries were paying the highest price.

What did Guterres say about Lebanon?

Guterres said the fighting in Lebanon had grown worse since March. Israel had stepped up operations in Lebanese territory, he said. Hizbullah had fired deeper into Israel.

He said civilians had been killed. Homes and infrastructure in southern Lebanon had been destroyed. More than a million people had been forced to flee.

Seven UN peacekeepers had been killed, he said. One of them died in the past week.

Guterres called for a full ceasefire respected by all sides. He linked this to Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). He said he backed the Lebanese Government having sole control of weapons. He praised the United States for helping talks between Israel and Lebanon.

What is happening in Gaza and the West Bank?

Guterres said the situation in Gaza and the West Bank was getting worse fast. A ceasefire was announced eight months ago. But he said Gaza still faced deep uncertainty and great suffering. Civilians were being killed each day. Aid work was tightly limited.

He said the Israeli Government had stated its intent to control 70 per cent of Gaza. He urged all sides to carry out the Comprehensive Plan in full. That plan is backed by the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye. He recalled resolution 2803 (2025). He said Gaza must stay part of a Palestinian State.

In the West Bank, he cited reports of settler attacks. These now average six a day, he said. He also pointed to home demolitions and the growth of settlements. He said displacement had reached levels not seen since 1967. He warned that any annexation would have no legal force. It could also make a two-State solution impossible, he said.

What did Guterres say about the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz?

Guterres turned next to the Gulf. He called the ceasefire there "more like a lesser-fire". He pointed to rising attacks over the past 48 hours. He said the risk of full war should not be played down.

He said limits on shipping near the Strait of Hormuz were causing harm worldwide. They were pushing up energy prices and disrupting supply chains, he said. In fragile states, he said, they raised the risk of new conflict. Even in the best case, the shocks could last for months.

He called for a complete ceasefire. He also urged talks to make sure Iran's nuclear programme stays peaceful. He linked this to resolution 2817 (2026). He thanked Pakistan for its mediation. He welcomed help from Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

What did Guterres say about Syria and Yemen?

Guterres said any wider conflict would cast a shadow over Syria. Its people were starting to taste peace after 13 years of war, he said. He said this progress needed respect for Syria's sovereignty and borders.

In Yemen, he pointed to a recent deal. It freed 1,600 people held in the conflict, he said. It was part of the 2018 Stockholm Agreement. He urged the Houthis to stop threatening shipping in the Bab al Mandeb. He also called on them to free all detained UN staff.

What did Guterres ask the Security Council to do?

Guterres urged the Council to fully back a two-State solution. He called it the key to lasting peace in the region.

"There is no alternative," he said. "And there is no time to waste."