NEW YORK CITY: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday told Arab News that the international community has a duty to do everything in its power to pursue a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and to bring about the conditions that can make it happen.

“It is absolutely essential to keep alive the two-state solution perspective, with all the terrible things we are witnessing in Gaza and the West Bank,” he said.

“And for those who have doubts about the two-state solution, I ask what is the alternative? Is it a one-state solution in which either the Palestinians are expelled or the Palestinians will be forced to live on their land without rights? That would be totally unacceptable.

“I firmly believe that it is the duty of the international community to do everything to keep the two-state solution alive and then to materialize the conditions to make it happen.”

His comments came as Saudi Arabia and France prepare to co-chair a global conference this month in an attempt to hasten the implementation of a two-state solution and end decades of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

The effort gained further international support this week amid worsening conditions in Gaza as a result of Israel’s continuing intensification of military operations following the collapse in March of a previous ceasefire agreement with Hamas, and its decision to block humanitarian aid from entering the territory.

These actions have resulted in thousands of Palestinian deaths, the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, further mass displacements, and severe risk of famine, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, an initiative that aims to improve food security analysis and decision-making.

The devastating toll of Israel’s resumed assault on Gaza has sparked international anger, and Arab representatives have said the upcoming conference must look beyond mere diplomacy and deliver tangible steps on a path toward peace.

Speaking at a meeting of the UN General Assembly this month in preparation for the forum, Saudi Arabia said official recognition of the State of Palestine was a “strategic necessity” as “the cornerstone of a new regional order based on mutual recognition and coexistence.”

It added: “Regional peace begins with recognizing the State of Palestine, not as a symbolic gesture but as a strategic necessity.”

The high-level conference, scheduled to take place from June 17 to 20 at the UN headquarters in New York, aims to urgently adopt concrete measures to achieve the implementation of a two-state solution.

Palestine is officially recognized by 147 of the UN’s 193 member states and has held the status of nonmember observer state within the organization since 2012, but has not been granted full membership.

More than 53,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israeli authorities unleashed its military operations in Gaza following a Hamas-led attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel in October 2023.

On Wednesday, Guterres led a solemn tribute to 168 UN workers killed during 2024, describing the ceremony as not only a moment of mourning but a call for global reflection on the dangers faced by humanitarian workers. Of those who were honored, 126 were killed in Gaza and all but one of them served with the UN Relief and Works Agency.

Guterres said 2024 was the deadliest year for UN staff in the organization’s history and added: “More than one in every 50 UNRWA staff in Gaza has been killed in this atrocious conflict. Some were killed delivering life-saving aid, others alongside their families, and others while shielding the vulnerable.”

Families of the fallen were present at the annual memorial ceremony, during which Guterres described those who lost their lives as “extraordinary individuals, each one a story of courage, compassion and service.”

He emphasized the enduring commitment of UN workers despite growing global instability and said: “They do not seek recognition. They seek to make a difference. When conflict erupts, they work for peace. When rights are violated, they speak out.”

Guterres condemned the targeting of humanitarian workers and civilians in conflict zones and warned against what he called a growing tolerance for impunity.

“We will not accept the killing of UN personnel, of humanitarians, journalists, medical workers, or civilians as the new normal,” he said. “There must be no room for impunity.”

Despite increasing criticism of international institutions and growing shortfalls in funding for aid, Guterres said the dedication of UN staff remains unwavering.

“In a world where cooperation is under strain, we must remember the example set by our fallen colleagues,” he added.

He pledged to uphold the core values of the UN, stating: “We will not waver in our principles. We will not abandon our values. And we will never, ever give up.”

MUWASI, Gaza Strip: With the Gaza Strip devastated by war and siege, Palestinians struggled Thursday to celebrate one of the most important Islamic holidays.

To mark Eid Al-Adha – Arabic for the Festival of Sacrifice — Muslims traditionally slaughter a sheep or cow and give away part of the meat to the poor as an act of charity. Then they have a big family meal with sweets. Children get gifts of new clothes.

But no fresh meat has entered Gaza for three months. Israel has blocked shipments of food and other aid to pressure Hamas to release hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that started the war. And nearly all the territory’s homegrown sheep, cattle and goats are dead after 20 months of Israeli bombardment and ground offensives.

Some of the little livestock left was on sale at a makeshift pen set up in the vast tent camp of Muwasi in the southern part of Gaza’s Mediterranean coast.

But no one could afford to buy. A few people came to look at the sheep and goats, along with a cow and a camel. Some kids laughed watching the animals and called out the prayers connected to the holiday.

“I can’t even buy bread. No meat, no vegetables,” said Abdel Rahman Madi. “The prices are astronomical.”

The Eid commemorates the test of faith of the Prophet Ibrahim – Abraham in the Bible – and his willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to God. The day is usually one of joy for children – and a day when businesses boom a bit as people buy up food and gifts.

But prices for everything have soared amid the blockade, which was only slightly eased two weeks ago. Meat and most fresh fruits and vegetables disappeared from the markets weeks ago.

At a street market in the nearby city of Khan Younis, some stalls had stuffed sheep toys and other holiday knickknacks and old clothes. But most people left without buying any gifts after seeing the prices.

“Before, there was an Eid atmosphere, the children were happy … Now with the blockade, there’s no flour, no clothes, no joy,” said Hala Abu Nqeira, a woman looking through the market. “We just go to find flour for our children. We go out every day looking for flour at a reasonable price, but we find it at unbelievable prices.”

Israel’s campaign against Hamas has almost entirely destroyed Gaza’s ability to feed itself. The UN says 96 percent of the livestock and 99 percent of the poultry are dead. More than 95 percent of Gaza’s prewar cropland is unusable, either too damaged or inaccessible inside Israeli military zones, according to a land survey published this week by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

Israel barred all food and other supplies from entering Gaza for more than two months. It eased the blockade two weeks ago to allow a trickle of aid trucks in for the UN to distribute. The trucks have brought in some food items, mainly flour. But the UN says it has struggled to delivery much of the incoming aid because of looting or Israeli military restrictions.

Almost the entire population of more than 2 million people have been driven from their homes, and most have had to move multiple times to escape Israeli offensives.

Rasha Abu Souleyma said she recently slipped back to her home in Rafah — from which her family had fled to take refuge in Khan Younis — to find some possessions she’d left behind.

She came back with some clothes, pink plastic sunglasses and bracelets that she gave to her two daughters as Eid gifts.

“I can’t buy them clothes or anything,” the 38-year-old said. “I used to bring meat in Eid so they would be happy, but now we can’t bring meat, and I can’t even feed the girls with bread.”

Near her, a group of children played on makeshift swings made of knotted and looped ropes.

Karima Nejelli, a displaced woman from Rafah, pointed out that people in Gaza had now marked both Eid Al-Adha and the other main Islamic holiday, Eid Al-Fitr, two times each under the war. “During these four Eids, we as Palestinians did not see any kind of joy, no sacrifice, no cookies, no buying Eid clothes or anything.”