The UN Secretary General commended US President Donald Trump for his role in “robust diplomacy” that contributed to the Gaza ceasefire.
While addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, António Guterres remarked: “The negotiations were dragging on for quite some time. Then suddenly, progress was made. I believe there was significant input from the robust diplomacy of the president-elect of the United States at that moment.”
“When Israel was still hesitant about accepting the ceasefire just two days before it came about, there was suddenly a shift to acceptance.”
However, he cautioned that Israel might be aiming to annex the West Bank and maintain the situation in Gaza in a state of limbo, feeling empowered by its military achievements against Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
He stated that any attempts at annexation would constitute “a total violation of international law.”
Mr. Guterres emphasized that such actions would severely undermine any progress on the Abraham Accords, which aim for normalization of relations between Israel and Arab countries in exchange for advancements on the Palestinian issue.
“That would mean we could never attain a truly stable and peaceful Middle East.”
President Trump has signed an executive order rescinding the sanctions imposed by former President Joe Biden on violent Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
Recently, numerous settlers violently protested in the West Bank, attacking and setting fire to Palestinian homes and villages in response to the Gaza ceasefire.
Mr. Trump also reinstated sanctions issued during his first term against the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Mr. Guterres proposed that Iran take the “first step” towards reducing tensions in the Middle East by committing not to pursue nuclear weapons and acknowledging the sovereignty of its neighbors.
In his speech to the delegates, the Secretary General described global warming as a horror film and stated that the world’s “addiction to fossil fuels” has created a destructive force that harms all.
He warned financial institutions and industries that are backtracking on climate commitments that they were on the wrong side of history and science.
He stated that 13 of the world’s largest ports for oil supertankers would be inundated by rising sea levels driven by increasing temperatures.
Mr. Guterres informed the audience: “2024 is likely to be the first year with temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
“Exceeding these limits does not mean the long-term goal of restricting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees is unachievable. It signifies that we must intensify our efforts, especially as we face… rising sea levels, heat waves, floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires.”
He envisioned a future where “every economy suffers due to disrupted supply chains, destroyed infrastructure, increased prices, and elevated insurance premiums—or the lack of insurance altogether.”
Mr. Guterres refrained from commenting on President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement.
