Guterres: International community failed in Gaza, Türkiye impressed me with COP31

UN Secretary-General António Guterres told Anadolu that the Gaza ceasefire is not being respected and that children continue to die. He said events in the West Bank reveal a clear intention to annex territory, while praising Türkiye’s organization of the climate conference.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that "the international community failed in Gaza, but people are responsible for this failure" in an interview with Anadolu on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP31 in the Turkish city of Antalya.

Guterres added: "A ceasefire was reached, but it is not being respected. Children are still dying, and this is a horrific situation." He said he had condemned Hamas’ attacks, but had also condemned the scale of the death and destruction caused by Israel in Gaza and the enormous obstacles to delivering humanitarian aid.

غوتيريش في مقر مؤتمر COP31 في أنطاليا

A "clear intention to annex" in the West Bank

Guterres said there was a peace plan supported by the Security Council, but its implementation was moving extremely slowly, accusing Israel of obstructing the delivery of aid and implementation of the plan. He said what is happening in the West Bank is "completely unacceptable," citing the construction of new settlements, forced evictions, and settler violence against Palestinians, journalists and diplomats. He added that "there is a clear intention to occupy more land, indicating that the ultimate goal is annexation."

He stressed that the two-state solution is the only way to achieve long-term peace in the Middle East. Asked about the most unforgettable moments of his term, Guterres said it was his visit to Rafah, where he saw aid trucks stopped at the crossing and prevented from entering Gaza.

Praise for Türkiye

Regarding the climate conference, Guterres said he was "extremely impressed by the high quality of Türkiye’s organization" of the event, expressing hope that this quality would serve as a model for all member states in meeting the level of commitment required to protect the planet.

Photos: Anadolu

Guterres: International community failed in Gaza, Türkiye impressed me with COP31