New York: The United Nations has commenced a high-level three-day global conference focused on achieving a viable two-state solution to the decades-old Israel-Palestine conflict. The conference, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, marks a significant diplomatic push aimed at reviving meaningful peace efforts amid ongoing violence and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

In his opening address, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and reiterated the importance of a two-state solution, calling it the only realistic path toward lasting peace in the region. His remarks were both a call to action and a reflection of growing international concern over the deepening crisis in the Palestinian territories.

“The destruction of Gaza is unbearable,” said Guterres. “There is no justification for the obliteration of Gaza. The world is watching in real time, and what it sees is unconscionable.”

Guterres emphasized that the situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic proportions, with civilian lives being lost at an alarming rate and infrastructure in ruins. He pointed out that the destruction not only violates international humanitarian law but also weakens the prospects of a peaceful resolution by fueling more resentment and instability.

The conference was originally scheduled for June 2025, following a UN General Assembly resolution passed last year. However, it was postponed due to escalating tensions after Israel launched airstrikes in response to an alleged Iranian threat in June 2025. The urgency of the current humanitarian situation, however, led to the rescheduling and early commencement of the event.

“This conference is timely,” the Secretary-General noted, “and could serve as a turning point. It holds the potential to trigger irreversible momentum toward ending the occupation and achieving a peaceful resolution based on international law.”

The UN chief reiterated the organization’s official