António Guterres
@antonioguterres · World leaders & international officials
António Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations, whose statements Israel has repeatedly condemned as one-sided, and whom it declared persona non grata in 2024.
I am deeply concerned by the escalation of Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon. I condemn the mounting civilian casualties, the distress & displacement caused by the evacuation orders, and the scenes of massive destruction & devastation. Civilians & civilian objects must be protected at all times. They are #NotATarget and attacks directed against them are unacceptable. I appeal for an immediate cessation of hostilities. I call on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory. The Lebanese State must have the monopoly on the use of force. I urge all parties to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty & territorial integrity. The @UN remains committed to supporting efforts to end the violence, protect civilians & advance a lasting solution to this conflict.
The conflicts in the Middle East have had far-reaching effects. Agreements & ceasefires are constantly violated, and strikes continue. I appeal for maximum restraint & for agreements &international law to be respected. More than ever, we need negotiations towards a just, lasting peace in line with international law, including the @UN Charter & relevant UN resolutions.
UN Peace operations help defuse crises, stop conflict, sustain ceasefires, protect civilians, and create space for dialogue. To adapt to a changing world, we must make @UN peace operations more effective, cost-efficient & impactful. Together, let’s #InvestInPeace.
I condemn in the strongest terms today’s actions by the Israeli authorities to unlawfully enter & remain on the @UNRWA Kalandia Training Centre in occupied East Jerusalem & carry out unauthorized works in those premises. I am greatly alarmed at this development, as it will deprive young people from the vocational education they were receiving. These actions against UNRWA premises are wholly unacceptable & inconsistent with Israel’s clear obligations under international law. I urge the Government of Israel to immediately cease the interference with UNRWA premises, vacate, return & restore all affected premises to the @UN without delay, and protect those premises from further interference or damage. https://t.co/JOpP3yJBVW
Conflicts in different regions are choking arteries of global trade & squeezing the global food system. Navigational rights & freedoms are vital for international peace & security & the flow of essential goods. My appeal: - full respect for international law – including law of the sea & international humanitarian law - protection for civilian shipping, infrastructure & civilian seafarers - upholding of navigational rights & freedoms - an immediate end to attacks against commercial shipping & civilian infrastructure in the Black Sea - full restoration & respect of navigational rights & freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz - an end to attacks against shipping in the Red Sea & around Bab al-Mandab.
Attacks & disruption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz & the Red Sea are constraining the movement of energy, fertilizers & other essential commodities. In the conflict following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, attacks are threatening shipping routes vital for the export of oil, grain & other agricultural products. The result is higher prices, deepening hunger & greater hardship – especially for the world’s most vulnerable people. The unimpeded exercise of navigational rights & freedoms is a cornerstone of peace, security & shared prosperity, and must be respected. Protecting it is a legal obligation & a humanitarian imperative.
On Wednesday, we remember & honour our @UN colleagues who were killed in the bombing of our headquarters in Baghdad 23 years ago. Their legacy lives on in every humanitarian worker & in every act of solidarity with people whose suffering is so often unseen & whose voices are so often unheard.
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