UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Tuesday that the promise of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is "at risk of fading." He said that political commitment to this long-term goal is "further away than ever."

This came in a speech delivered during a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue, chaired by the French Foreign Minister, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Council this month.

Guterres said the two-state solution is approaching the "point of no return," stressing that the international community bears a responsibility to prevent the prolongation of occupation and violence.

The Secretary-General called on UN member states to "take irreversible steps to achieve a two-state solution and not allow extremists on either side to undermine what remains of the peace process."

Guterres also noted that the Middle East is undergoing fundamental transformations, marked by violence and turmoil, but also by opportunities and potential. He said that people across the region are seeking a better future, not endless conflict and suffering.

For his part, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian representative to the United Nations, accused Israel of using "starvation" as a weapon of war against civilians subjected to relentless bombardment in the Gaza Strip.

He added in his speech: "The immediate ceasefire must be resumed, and all its objectives must be achieved," noting that there are solutions under which Hamas will not rule the Gaza Strip, a key Israeli demand.

Mansour expressed hope that the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, with the support of the international community, would be able to ensure a return to the ceasefire agreement.