UPDATING LIVE: Rejection of two-State solution by Israeli leadership 'unacceptable', says Guterres

Many of the world’s top diplomats are debating the deepening crisis in the Gaza Strip and the whole Middle East in the Security Council on Tuesday, against the backdrop of Israel’s unrelenting military operation, mounting death toll and escalating global calls for an immediate ceasefire. The UN Secretary-General just told ambassadors and foreign ministers that any refusal to accept a two-State solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, "must be firmly rejected". _Follow full live coverage here._ Video feed of the Council meeting, expected to start at 2 PM. **2:15 PM** “Let’s face it. Despite all the efforts I described, **no effective humanitarian aid operation can function under the conditions that have been forced on Palestinians** in Gaza and those doing everything possible to help them", said the UN chief. He reiterated the need for safety on the ground alongside telecommunications equipment for convoys, armoured vehicles, spare parts for vital infrastructure, more crossing points, easing verification and the end to denials of aid shipments. “I **renew my appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire**. This will ensure sufficient aid gets to where it is needed, facilitate the release of hostages, and help lower tensions around the Middle East,” he stressed. **2:10 PM** ### **‘Appalling humanitarian situation’** Stating that the entire population of Gaza is enduring destruction at a scale and speed without parallel in recent history, Mr. Guterres stressed that **nothing can justify the collective punishment** of the Palestinian people.  UN Photo Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. With disease and hunger raging and needs skyrocketing, in the midst of winter, UN humanitarians and partners are **striving to deliver despite overwhelming challenges** , he said. **2:06 PM** ### **Guterres demands hostage release** UN Secretary-General António Guterres once again demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages being held by Palestinian militants in Gaza. He said nothing can ever justify the deliberate killing, injuring, or kidnapping of any civilians, “the use of sexual violence against them or the indiscriminate launching of rockets” towards them. He noted Israel was proposing a two month pause in hostilities in exchange for a “phased release” of the remaining hostages in the Strip. “I will continue, in my limited capacity, to pursue all efforts to contribute to their release", he said.  © WFP A bakery in Gaza reopens after a 50-day closure, with support from the World Food Programme. **2:05 PM** The meeting is underway, with French foreign minister Stéphane Séjourné in the chair, as his nation holds the presidency for January. The UN chief is sitting to his right. He extended a warm welcome to the Secretary-General saying his presence underlined the gravity of the crisis before the world. **2:00 PM** The Council chamber is packed as visiting diplomats and delegates from the New York missions mingle ahead of the start of the meeting, which looks some minutes off. **1:30 PM** Secretary-General António Guterres is due to brief the meeting, with senior foreign ministers and ambassadors from the 15 Council members – together with many other nations – due to have their say on the widening war. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, France’s Stéphane Séjourné, Türkiye’s Hakan Fidan and the UK’s Tariq Ahmad are among those who have made the trip to New York to take part in the high level open debate. Mr. Séjourné is expected to chair the meeting, as France holds the rotating Security Council Presidency for January. The meeting on peace and security in the Middle East takes place amid a widening of the conflict beyond Gaza, with regular exchanges of fire between Israeli and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon and increasing air strikes led by the US and UK on Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been attacking shipping in the Red Sea as an act of solidarity with Palestinian militants. With the humanitarian crisis in Gaza showing no signs of abating and initiatives to see hostages released in exchange for a humanitarian pause struggling to gain traction, calls for an end to the carnage in the enclave are growing louder. Some 70 names are inscribed on the speaking list and the meeting is likely to continue late into the evening. We will have the coverage of the deliberations live on this page, and on X, formerly Twitter, at @UN_News_Centre Click here or here for our coverage of the last two meetings of the Security Council on the crisis and visit the UN Meetings Coverage here (or here in French) for detailed run down of the Council’s deliberations.

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