United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday stressed that Palestinians must be given a genuine “horizon of hope,” calling for the full and unconditional implementation of the ceasefire and an end to the ongoing cycle of violence that has devastated Palestinian lives.

In a statement shared on X, Guterres emphasized that partial or selective adherence to the ceasefire is insufficient, warning that continued violations only prolong Palestinian suffering. “The ceasefire must be implemented in full,” he said, underscoring the urgent need to halt attacks that have caused widespread civilian deaths, displacement, and humanitarian collapse, particularly in Gaza.

The UN chief said the endless cycle of violence imposed on Palestinians must be broken, noting that decades of occupation, blockade, and repeated military assaults have denied Palestinians basic security, dignity, and self-determination.

Guterres also renewed his call for clearing the way toward an irreversible political process leading to a two-state solution, stressing that peace cannot be achieved without recognizing Palestinian rights and establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

His remarks come as Gaza continues to face catastrophic humanitarian conditions following months of Israeli bombardment and restrictions on aid, with international organizations warning that famine, disease, and infrastructure collapse threaten millions of civilians. The UN has repeatedly stated that humanitarian pauses alone are not enough and that lasting peace requires accountability, justice, and an end to occupation.

Guterres has consistently urged the international community to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action to protect Palestinian civilians, ensure unrestricted humanitarian access, and uphold international law, warning that failure to do so will only entrench injustice and fuel further instability across the region. (ILKHA)