Guterres calls for every effort to keep alive two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called on the international community to keep alive the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and create conditions to realize it.

Guterres told reporters that without a two-state solution, the plight of the Palestinian people will remain unresolved.

"It is absolutely essential to keep alive the two-state solution perspective with all the terrible things we are witnessing in Gaza and in the West Bank. And for those that doubt about the two-state solutions, I ask, what is the alternative? Is it the one-state solution in which either the Palestinians are expelled, or the Palestinians will be forced to live in their land without rights? That would be totally unacceptable. I firmly believe that it is the duty of the international community to do everything to keep the two-state solution alive and then to materialize the conditions to make it happen," he said.

The secretary-general also expressed his disappointment that the United States on Wednesday vetoed a Security Council draft resolution that would have demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid.

"Of course, as I said, we are always disappointed when a ceasefire does not materialize, releases are not hostages, and humanitarian aid is not distributed or is distributed in way that puts at risk the life of so many Palestinians," he said.

The draft resolution, tabled by the 10 elected members of the Security Council, won the support of 14 out of the 15 members of the council. The United States, which holds veto power, voted against it.

The draft resolution would have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, and the immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and its safe and unhindered distribution at scale.

Guterres calls for every effort to keep alive two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Guterres calls for every effort to keep alive two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Guterres calls for every effort to keep alive two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The Chinese military has continued to conduct combat readiness patrols in the territorial waters of and airspace over the Huangyan Dao as well as the surrounding areas in the South China Sea since the beginning of December, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command said Wednesday.

The PLA Southern Theater Command said it has deployed naval and air forces troops to reinforce patrols and vigilance, further strengthening control and management over the relevant areas.

The move has effectively addressed various infringement and provocations, with an aim to safeguard China's sovereignty and security while maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, according to the PLA Southern Theater Command.

Chinese military conducts combat readiness patrols over Huangyan Dao