(VOVWORLD) - Statehood for the Palestinians is a right, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday, calling once again for an end to the unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory.
At a special meeting to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Guterres said, "The Palestinian people have a right to dignity, to justice, and to self-determination."
He called for "irreversible progress toward a two-State solution, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within their secure and recognized borders, on the basis of pre-1967 lines."
Declaring that the rights of the Palestinians have been violated beyond comprehension over the last two years, Guterres said the October ceasefire agreement offers a glimmer of hope.
He urged all parties to abide by the resolution in full and move swiftly toward the next phase, as "it is essential to translate this diplomatic momentum into concrete and urgently needed progress on the ground."