By Janet Ekstract, NEW YORK – U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) that the situation in Gaza “is a non-stop nightmare.” Guterres warned about an increasing “level of impunity” and said that impunity, inequality and uncertainty are creating an “unsustainable world.” The secretary-general remarked: “The level of impunity in the world is politically indefensible and morally intolerable,” adding “a growing number of governments and others feel entitled to a ‘get of jail free’ card.” Guterres reiterated “We can’t go on like this” – speaking at the General Assembly’s debate among presidents, prime ministers, monarchs and other leaders in good faith. The U.N. leader highlighted the deepening geopolitical rifts, wars without end, climate change, nuclear and emerging weapons as issue “edging towards the unimaginable – a powder keg that risks engulfing the world.” Though Guterres underscored that “challenges we face are solvable” – he reiterated that the international community is responsible for facing the uncertainty of unmanaged risks, inequality that is behind numerous injustices and grievances and the impunity that undermines international law and the U.N.’s founding principles.
The U.N. leader received thunderous applause when he said Lebanon cannot turn into another Gaza as he commented: “Let’s be clear, nothing can justify the abhorrent acts of terror committed by Hamas on Oct. 7 or the taking of hostages, both of which I have repeatedly condemned and nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.” He cited “The speed and the scale of the killing and destruction in Gaza are unlike anything in my years as Secretary-General, more than 200 of our own staff have been killed, many with their families, and yet the women and men of the United Nations continue to deliver humanitarian aid.” Guterres added: “And I know you join me in paying special tribute to UNRWA and to all humanitarians in Gaza.” He urged the international community to join in solidarity calling for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of hostages as well as an irreversible process of moving to a two-state solution. As Guterres concluded: “For those who go on…with more settlements, more land grabs, more incitement, I ask what is the alternative? How could the world accept the one state in which a large number of Palestinians would be included without any freedom, any rights or dignity?
