UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Tuesday for achieving peace in Palestine and Lebanon, through international law.

This came in his speech at the 10th Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations in the Portuguese city of Cascais, which is being held between 25 and 27 November.

“Tensions are rising everywhere, human rights are under attack, the climate crisis continues to worsen. All kinds of sectarianism are spreading,” he said.

"Conflicts and wars feed and exacerbate these problems, and we need peace in these times," he added.

He stressed the need to "achieve an urgent ceasefire and establish immediate, unconditional peace in Gaza, and deliver humanitarian aid effectively and without hindrance."

He stressed the need to exert more efforts in multicultural societies, institutions, environments and the Internet, while protecting the foundations of peaceful and just societies.