In his closing appearance before the United Nations General Assembly as secretary-general, António Guterres delivered a forceful denunciation of the violence and destruction in Gaza and of the ongoing expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank. Speaking to world leaders and diplomats gathered in New York, he framed the events as a matter of urgent humanitarian and political concern.
Guterres singled out the loss of life and the damage to civilian infrastructure in Gaza, condemning what he described as unacceptable killing and widespread destruction. He also highlighted the development of settlements in the West Bank, characterizing them as a further obstacle to peace and stability in the region.
The address served as a summation of themes the secretary-general has emphasised throughout his tenure: the protection of civilians, the need for adherence to international humanitarian law, and the role of the international community in preventing further escalation. By linking the immediate human toll in Gaza to broader, long-standing issues in the West Bank, Guterres sought to underscore the interconnected nature of the region’s crises.
Delivering his final remarks to the global body that he has led, the secretary-general also reiterated the United Nations' mandate to respond to conflict and humanitarian suffering. His comments are likely to reverberate in diplomatic circles as member states weigh political and practical responses to the situation on the ground. The speech caps his tenure at the UN and places the spotlight on how the organisation and its members will address ongoing tensions in the Middle East going forward.