Bombardment of Hamas in Gaza, where, the death toll reached about 25,500 on Tuesday, with about 70% of the victims being women and children: Health ministry

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated on Tuesday that Israel's rejection of the notion of a two-state solution with the Palestinians is unacceptable and could prolong the conflict in Gaza.

In an address to the Security Council, Guterres stated, "Last week's clear and repeated rejection of the two-state solution at the highest levels of the Israeli government is unacceptable."

"This refusal, and the denial of the right to statehood to the Palestinian people, would indefinitely prolong a conflict that has become a major threat to global peace and security," Guterres stated at the event.

He said, saying that such a result "would exacerbate polarization and embolden extremists everywhere."

Guterres demanded that the "right of the Palestinian people to build their own fully independent state" be recognized by all people.

By rejecting proposals for a Palestinian state, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced international criticism in recent days and defied the US, which gives Israel billions of dollars in military aid.

This denial coincides with Israel's bombardment of Hamas in Gaza, where, according to the health ministry of the territory, the death toll reached about 25,500 on Tuesday, with about 70% of the victims being women and children.

According to an AFP count based on official Israeli data, the extraordinary onslaught by Hamas fighters on October 7 resulted in the deaths of roughly 1,140 persons, predominantly civilians. This incident prompted the start of the offensive.

The group also seized about 250 hostages during the attack, with around 132 still remaining in Gaza.

- Israel at odds with allies -

The statement came from Netanyahu's office last week, which denied Palestinian sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and stated that Israel "must retain security control over Gaza" even if "Hamas is destroyed."

It was imperative, he declared, that Israel maintain "security control over all the territory west of the (River) Jordan."

While some of Israel's partners have expressed disapproval of its remarks, few are willing to formally withdraw their backing.

As he presided over the Security Council meeting on Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne declared, "We must have a Palestinian state."

Furthermore, Washington has insisted that it can still cooperate with Israel on the matter, despite Netanyahu having explicitly informed US President Joe Biden that he opposes Palestinian sovereignty in the Gaza Strip.

According to US undersecretary for human rights Uzra Zeya, "it's President Biden's firm conviction that two states, with Israeli security guaranteed, are the only path to durable peace," she stated on Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki of the Palestinian Authority called for a truce, saying that the "disregard for Palestinian life" could no longer be allowed. Meanwhile, Sergey Lavrov, the top diplomat for Russia, claimed that the US has obstructed "all efforts and initiatives geared towards ending the bloodshed."

Aiding Gaza is "important," but Iran is "the root of the dire threat to the Middle East and the world," according to Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan.

A demand made by Guterres was that "Israel's occupation must end."

He also demanded the creation of new humanitarian crossing routes and the restart of relief operations at the Israeli port of Ashdod. "The entire population of Gaza is enduring destruction at a scale and speed without parallel in recent history," he added.

The two million residents of the small land strip are facing a severe humanitarian crisis, including the possibility of malnutrition and disease, as a result of three and a half months of nonstop bombardment and a ground invasion, according to international organizations.

End//voice7news.tv