United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stressed yesterday that the situation in the Middle East has become like a “powder keg” about to explode, and it is necessary to work to prevent the escalation of conflict throughout the region. Guterres stressed, in a statement, that the military operations carried out by Israel lead to widespread destruction and the killing of people on an unprecedented scale.

Guterres stressed the need to immediately reach a humanitarian ceasefire to alleviate the suffering in Gaza, allow aid to reach those in need, and facilitate the release of hostages. He also criticized the repeated rejection of the two-state solution as “unacceptable,” noting that depriving the Palestinian people of their rights will prolong the conflict, which has become a serious threat to international peace and security.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had confirmed his position rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state, and Itamar Ben Gvir, the Israeli Minister of National Security, supported his position in a post on the “X” website.

For his part, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister, said that relations with Israel cannot be normalized without resolving the Palestinian issue, adding that “the establishment of a Palestinian state constitutes a consensus within the international community.” The Europeans, the Americans, and everyone agree that the (only) way out of the cycle of violence is to move towards a path that leads to the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

Bin Farhan stressed, during an interview on CNN yesterday, that “achieving true peace and stability that provides economic and social benefits to everyone, including Israel, will only be achieved through a credible, irreversible peace process to establish peace.” A Palestinian state.”

The Saudi Foreign Minister also attacked the unjustified targeting of civilians in the Gaza Strip, where the death toll rose yesterday to more than 25,000 since the start of the war on October 7.