At the Cairo Peace Conference, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, having visited the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Oct. 20, called for a ceasefire, as reported by Al Ahram: “Israelis must see their legitimate needs for security materialized, and Palestinians must see their legitimate aspirations for an independent State realized, in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements. As we focus on ending the bloodshed, we cannot lose sight of the only realistic foundation for true peace and stability: a two-state solution.”
Guterres also affirmed that the people of Gaza need a commitment to a continuous delivery of aid. “We are working nonstop with all parties that are relevant to make it happen,” he said. He pleaded for a “humanitarian ceasefire” in the war between Israel and Hamas militants that has devastated much of Gaza, demanding “action to end this godawful nightmare.” His was a lonely Western voice agreeing that a ceasefire was necessary.
Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, in his address to the conference, warned against the attempts to displace Palestinians from Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. “We will not leave and we will remain in our Arab land,” Abbas said. He also rejected the targeting of civilians by both sides and called for the release of all prisoners and detainees on both sides. He said the Palestinian people are facing brutal aggression by Israel, warning that the cycle of violence is constantly renewed due to the absence of justice and neglect of the rights of Palestinians. “The two-state solution and ending the occupation according to a clear timetable is the solution to the current crisis,” Abbas said, calling on the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities towards the Palestinian people.
