Could the Gaza Peace Deal Lead to a Lasting Two-State Solution?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Guterres welcomes the Gaza peace deal.
- Opportunity for a two-state solution.
- Humanitarian access must be prioritized.
- Call for all parties to adhere to agreement.
- Significant casualties reported.
United Nations, Oct 9 (NationPress) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed his approval of the recent Gaza peace agreement, suggesting it creates pathways for a sustainable resolution that could facilitate a two-state solution, allowing both Israel and Palestine to coexist in harmony.
“The violence must cease permanently,” he remarked, following US President Donald Trump's announcement regarding the agreement between Hamas and Israel, marking the initial phase of the peace deal.
“I call upon all involved parties to seize this significant moment to craft a trustworthy political roadmap aimed at ending the occupation, acknowledging the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, and achieving a two-state solution that assures peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians,” he stated.
As part of the agreement brokered in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Hamas has consented to release its remaining hostages, while Israel has agreed to gradually withdraw its military presence from Gaza.
This marks the first step in a comprehensive 20-point peace initiative proposed by President Trump.
The agreement brings a glimmer of hope for an end to the two-year conflict, which has resulted in approximately 1,250 Israeli fatalities and around 67,000 Palestinian deaths due to retaliatory strikes on Gaza, governed by Hamas.
Guterres urged all signatories of the agreement “to fully adhere to its stipulations.”
“All hostages must be returned in a respectful manner,” he emphasized.
“It is crucial to ensure the immediate and unobstructed flow of humanitarian supplies and essential commercial goods into Gaza,” he added.
Israel has significantly curtailed, and at times halted, UN relief operations in Gaza, prompting officials to warn of impending famine-like conditions.
Many healthcare facilities and educational institutions have been devastated, as reported by the UN.
“The United Nations is committed to supporting the full execution of this agreement and will enhance the delivery of consistent and principled humanitarian assistance, in addition to advancing recovery and reconstruction initiatives in Gaza,” Guterres stated.
Meanwhile, approximately 370 personnel from the UN Relief and Works Agency, which aids Palestinians, have lost their lives in Gaza. The UN has been relegated to a bystander role due to a veto impasse between the US and Russia within the Security Council.
In a recent address at the UN, Trump criticized the organization, questioning its efficacy and claiming it has failed to meet its potential.
Commending the diplomatic efforts by the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye in facilitating this essential breakthrough, Guterres acknowledged Trump’s proposal, despite the latter’s grievances about the reception of his peace initiatives.
At a recent high-profile meeting hosted by France and Saudi Arabia at the UN, nearly 150 nations either recognized or reaffirmed their acknowledgment of a Palestinian state, a foundational element for the two-state solution. Trump denounced this in his UN speech, asserting it holds no position in his peace framework.