Sierra Leone’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Timothy Musa Kabba has expressed support for the admission of the State of Palestine to the UN, noting it potentially provides a pathway to a political horizon, based on the two-State solution.

On the latest conflict, he called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and for parties to fully respect resolutions 2712 (2023), 2720 (2023) and 2728 (2024). “The killings, suffering and collective punishment must stop,” and there must be accountability for all violations of international law.

He expressed concern about tensions in the occupied West Bank, in Lebanon and with the exchange of rockets and other attacks, which may cause a regional conflict. He underscored that the Council should consider the implementation of resolutions 2712 (2023), 2720 (2023) and 2728 (2024).

Urging maximum restraint following recent escalations in the Middle East, the Head of the United Nations Antonio Gueterres urged an end to the deadly cycle of retaliation and called on the international community to work together to avert a full-scale regional conflict, first by ending hostilities in Gaza and ultimately by realizing the two-State solution, as the Security Council today convened its quarterly open debate on the situation in the region.

“This moment of maximum peril must be a time for maximum restraint,” urged United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Reiterating his strong condemnation of the serious escalation posed by Iran’s large-scale attack on Israel on 13 April, as well as his condemnation of the attack on Tehran’s consulate in Damascus earlier this month, he said: “It is high time to end the bloody cycle of retaliation.”

The international community must work together to pull the region back from the precipice by advancing comprehensive diplomatic action for regional de-escalation, starting with Gaza, he said, emphasizing that ending the hostilities there would significantly defuse tensions across the region. Detailing limited progress and ongoing challenges despite Israel’s recent commitments to improve aid delivery, he said Palestinians are facing widespread starvation and Israel must fully and actively facilitate humanitarian operations immediately.

“The ultimate goal remains a two-State solution,” he said, stressing: “The international community has a responsibility and a moral obligation to help make this happen.” Spotlighting other conflicts in the region, including in the occupied West Bank, Lebanon and the Red Sea, he said: “We have a shared moral obligation to advance a comprehensive Middle East de-escalation effort, in order to reduce risks, increase stability, and pave the way towards peace and prosperity for the countries and people of the region and beyond.”

The United States on Thursday spoiled a long-shot Palestinian bid for full United Nations membership, vetoing a Security Council measure despite growing international distress over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Any request to become a UN member state must first earn a recommendation from the Security Council meaning at least nine positive votes out of 15, and no vetoes followed by endorsement by two-thirds majority of the General Assembly.

The United States, Israel’s main ally, has not hesitated in the past to use its veto to protect Israel, and did not hide its lack of enthusiasm for Palestinian UN membership in the weeks leading up to the vote.
Washington has said its position is unchanged: that the UN is not the venue for recognition of a Palestinian state, which must be the result of a peace deal with Israel.