Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, has proposed UN monitoring for a potential ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need to end the ongoing conflict. This offer comes as the region experiences what Guterres describes as unprecedented levels of death and destruction.
The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, with Hamas attacks in southern Israel, has now stretched for nearly a year. The United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), established in 1948 to monitor ceasefires in the Middle East, could potentially play a role in overseeing any agreed-upon cessation of hostilities.
Guterres acknowledged the challenges in implementing a UN-administered future for Gaza, citing likely resistance from Israel. However, he stressed the UN's readiness to support any ceasefire efforts, stating, "The UN will be available to support any cease-fire."
The Secretary-General highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where approximately 90% of the 2.3 million population has been displaced, often multiple times. The Gaza Strip, one of the most densely populated areas globally with about 5,500 people per square kilometer, has been under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade since 2007 when Hamas took control.
The UN has been actively involved in documenting the humanitarian crisis through agencies like the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The organization has also facilitated aid deliveries through mechanisms such as the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism, established in 2014.
Guterres emphasized the critical need for a two-state solution, describing it as "the only solution" to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This stance aligns with the Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995, which were intended to lead to a two-state solution but remain unimplemented.
The Secretary-General drew a parallel between the current situation and South Africa's apartheid system, which ended in the early 1990s. He stressed the importance of equality and mutual respect between Israelis and Palestinians for achieving lasting peace.
"I do not think you can have two peoples living together if they are not in a basis of equality, and if they are not in a basis of respect — mutual respect of their rights."
The UN's role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been multifaceted, including the recognition of Palestine as a non-member observer state in 2012 and the International Court of Justice's 2004 advisory opinion declaring the West Bank Barrier illegal under international law.
As the conflict continues, the UN remains committed to its humanitarian efforts and diplomatic initiatives, despite facing criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. The organization continues to call for an end to Israeli settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territories, considering them illegal under international law.