Guterres called for “maximum restraint and diplomatic solutions” and cautioned that “if the sabre-rattling we are witnessing now translates itself into a major escalation, the situation in the region can get out of control.” He also urged full restoration of navigational rights in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, critical corridors for global trade.
The Secretary-General commended Egypt for its mediation role, saying the country is “a pillar of multilateralism” and that “at a time when divisions are deepening, it is critical to keep the channels of diplomacy open.”
On Gaza, Guterres called for Israeli restrictions on humanitarian assistance to be lifted and obstacles blocking implementation of the UN Security Council-endorsed comprehensive plan to end the conflict to be removed. “Civilians must be protected and international law must be respected,” he said, while expressing deep alarm over Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank, including expanding settlements, evictions, surging violence, assaults on journalists and diplomats, and what he described as “an increasingly coercive environment with the spectre of ethnic cleansing looming ever larger.”
He reiterated that no durable peace in the Middle East is possible without a two-state solution. The UN chief also addressed the war in Sudan, stating “the fighting must stop,” and called for an inclusive political process. On Libya, he said it is time to unify institutions and pave the way for national elections.
This was Guterres’ ninth visit to Egypt since he took office in 2017. He leaves the UN at the end of the year.