UN Chief Calls for Urgent Ceasefire in Gaza, Warns Against Regional Escalation in Remarks at Arab League Summit

By: ATN News

Baghdad, Iraq: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark and impassioned address today at the Arab League Summit in Baghdad, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, while condemning both the October 7 Hamas attacks and Israel’s military response as “collective punishment” of Palestinians.

“Nothing justifies the atrocious October 7 terror attacks by Hamas. And nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” Guterres said, urging the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

His remarks, delivered before regional leaders including Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, underscored the UN’s deepening alarm over what Guterres described as Israel’s “reported plans to expand ground operations.” He reiterated the UN's refusal to support any aid operations that fall short of international legal and humanitarian standards.

“We reject the repeated displacement of the Gaza population – and we obviously reject any question of forced displacement outside of Gaza,” Guterres emphasized.

A Fractured Region and a Fraying Solution

Beyond Gaza, the Secretary-General warned of the crumbling viability of a two-state solution, describing it as "imperative" yet "more distant than ever."

He called out Israeli settlement activity and annexation in the West Bank as illegal under international law, stressing that only a two-state solution—based on UN resolutions and international law—could deliver lasting peace. He welcomed the upcoming high-level conference on the Israeli Palestinian conflict co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia in June, framing it as a rare opportunity to revive a vanishing peace process.

“The international community has an enormous responsibility in this decisive moment,” he added, pressing world powers to act before the two-state vision fades irreversibly.

A Whirlwind Tour of Regional Flashpoints

Guterres then turned to a series of other volatile hotspots across the Arab world:

• Lebanon: He reaffirmed the need to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and expressed support for Lebanese sovereignty, welcoming Beirut’s commitment to consolidate state control over weapons and security.

• Syria: He backed a Syrian-led political process under Resolution 2254, calling for inclusivity across ethnic and religious lines, and linking peace to eventual sanctions relief and economic recovery.

• Yemen: Guterres hailed the May 6 Oman-brokered announcement of U.S.–Houthi cessation of hostilities as a breakthrough, but stressed the need for a negotiated, Yemeni-led peace settlement. He demanded the release of detained UN staff.

• Sudan: With civil war pushing the country deeper into catastrophe, Guterres praised recent trilateral coordination between the UN, Arab League, and African Union, urging unified multilateral engagement to stem violence and famine.

• Somalia and Libya: He called for unity and inclusive governance in Somalia and recommended predictable funding for the AU peace mission. On Libya, he stressed the urgency of ending militia confrontation and clearing the path for elections.

Baghdad as a Symbol of Resilience

In a nod to Iraq, Guterres praised the country’s post-2004 progress in building institutions, fostering dialogue, and promoting development. He reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting Iraq’s transition and confirmed the planned drawdown of the UN mission by December 2025.

“Let us draw lessons and hope from here in Baghdad,” Guterres concluded. “Working in unity and solidarity, we can help resolve conflicts and build a future of peace and prosperity.”

Analysis: A Balancing Act Between Moral Clarity and Diplomatic Necessity

Guterres’ speech sought to straddle a fine line between condemning acts of terror and calling out state overreach. His words on Gaza were sharper than usual, especially his rejection of aid frameworks outside international law and his emphatic defense of UNRWA.

At the same time, his tour d’horizon of Arab crises was a pointed reminder of the UN’s growing role as a convener of multilateral coordination—but also its limits. With the Security Council often paralyzed, the Secretary-General increasingly uses such forums to lay down moral markers, even when enforcement remains out of reach.

Today in Baghdad, Guterres placed the burden of peace not only on warring parties, but also on a weary international community flirting with apathy. Whether anyone listens is another question. But the message was clear: in a region on the brink, silence is complicity.

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