UNITED NATIONS/GAZA/JERUSALEM - Statehood for the Palestinians is a right, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday, while reiterating the call for an end to the unlawful occupation of the Palestinian territory.
In remarks to a special meeting commemorating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, delivered by Courtenay Rattray, chef de cabinet of the UN chief, Guterres reaffirmed "a simple truth: The Palestinian people have a right to dignity, to justice, and to self-determination."
He called for "irreversible progress towards a two-State solution, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within their secure and recognized borders, on the basis of pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States."
Recalling that the rights of the Palestinians have been violated "beyond comprehension" over the last two years, Guterres said the October ceasefire agreement offers glimmers of hope, and the adoption of the resolution on Gaza by the UN Security Council is an important step in its consolidation.
The UN chief urged all parties to abide by the resolution in full and move swiftly toward the next phase, as "it is essential to translate this diplomatic momentum into concrete and urgently needed progress on the ground."
He underscored that lifesaving humanitarian aid must enter Gaza without obstruction and at scale, noting that Israel's obligations are clear, as outlined by the International Court of Justice in its recent advisory opinion, and called on all UN member states to meet the $4 billion target of the Flash Appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
"The United Nations will never waver in its commitment to the Palestinian people and their right for self-determination," said Guterres, calling on all governments, civil society, faith leaders and ordinary citizens to raise their voices with the United Nations.
In 1977, the UN General Assembly called for the annual observance of Nov. 29 as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. On that day in 1947, the General Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine.
Remains of hostage
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, and al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, on Tuesday handed over the remains of another Israeli to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources.
A Hamas source told Xinhua that members of the al-Qassam Brigades and the al-Quds Brigades "delivered the remains of one Israeli captive, which were found on Monday in the northern area of Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza."
Eyewitnesses and local sources in Gaza said ICRC teams received the remains and were en route to transfer them to the Israeli side.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military and the Shin Bet security agency confirmed in a statement that the remains of a hostage, one of the last three still in Gaza, were being transferred on Tuesday to the Red Cross in the enclave.
Also on Tuesday, the Ramallah-based health ministry said a Palestinian man was killed by Israeli army fire south of Jenin in the northern West Bank.
"We were informed ... the death of 22-year-old Sultan Nidal Abdul Aziz, who was shot by Israeli forces in the Marka area south of Jenin," the ministry said in a statement.
