United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned President Donald Trump on Wednesday against actions that could lead to ethnic cleansing in Gaza. This warning came in response to Trump’s recent proposal that would see Palestinians resettled elsewhere while the United States assumes control over the devastated region.
Guterres, speaking at a scheduled meeting of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, stated, “In the search for solutions, we must not make the problem worse. It is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law. It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing.” He also stressed, “We must reaffirm the two-state solution.”
Although Guterres did not directly reference Trump or his Gaza proposal during his address, his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, indicated earlier that it would be a “fair assumption” to interpret his comments as a response.
Earlier on the same day, Guterres had engaged in discussions with Jordan’s King Abdullah regarding the regional situation, according to Dujarric.
In related developments at the committee, Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour—appointed by the Palestinian Authority—mentioned that King Abdullah would be conveying a united message from Arab states to Trump during his upcoming visit to Washington. Mansour emphatically stated, “We have no country except Palestine. Gaza is a precious part of it. We are not going to leave Gaza,” adding, “There is no power on earth that can remove the Palestinian people from our ancestral homeland, including Gaza.” He further expressed the Palestinian intent, “We want to rebuild it. We want to put it back together. And we ask all countries to help us in this endeavor,” and underscored that, “We are not looking for other homelands or other countries.”
The United Nations has consistently supported the vision of two states coexisting with secure and recognized borders. Palestinians are advocating for a state comprising the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip—territories captured by Israel during the 1967 conflict with its neighboring Arab states.
Guterres reiterated, “Any durable peace will require tangible, irreversible and permanent progress toward the two-state solution, an end to the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with Gaza as an integral part.” He added, “A viable, sovereign Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel is the only sustainable solution for Middle East stability.”
The report also noted that Israel had previously withdrawn its soldiers and settlers from Gaza in 2005. Although Hamas has governed the territory since 2007, the United Nations still regards Gaza as being under Israeli occupation, with Israel and Egypt controlling access.
The conflict escalated after a deadly attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering a war that has severely impacted much of the region. A ceasefire agreement, which also secured the release of hostages held by Hamas, came into effect on January 19.
