UN Secretary General Press Remarks with the Foreign Minister of Jordan

Assalam alaikum. 

Foreign Minister Safady, thank you for your warm welcome.  It’s good to be back in Jordan, especially at such a critical time for the region and our world. 

When I see Jordan, I see solidarity in action.

I see it in the words and deeds of His Majesty King Abdullah – a global champion for peace. 

And I see it in the spirit of the people of Jordan and your enormous compassion towards those fleeing upheaval. 

Jordan is home to the largest number of Palestine refugees.  I visited a camp earlier today and commend Jordan for your pivotal advocacy for the vital work of UNRWA. 

You have also opened your hearts and doors to many others, including refugees from Syria.  And I urge the international community to support Jordan as it supports millions of people in need.

Jordan’s spirit of solidarity is precisely what brings me here once again. 

I am on my annual solidarity mission during the holy month of Ramadan where I visit and fast with Muslim communities in distress.

Ramadan is meant to be a period of celebration – but not this year. 

Hearts are heavy in the region – and indeed around the world – from the unprecedented and ongoing devastation in Gaza, as well as rising violence in the occupied West Bank.

I commend Jordan for your support for de-escalation, including in East Jerusalem.

And I salute Jordan for your relentless efforts to get humanitarian assistance into Gaza, including through the personal efforts and wisdom of King Abdullah. 

For my part, I will keep pushing for the removal of all obstacles to life-saving aid, for more access and more entry points. 

But we must face facts. 

There will be no sustainable humanitarian solution with an ongoing war as bloody as this. 

Let me repeat: nothing justifies the abhorrent October 7 attacks and hostage-taking by Hamas – and nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

The effective delivery of humanitarian aid requires the immediate delivery of a humanitarian ceasefire.

The need is urgent. 

I was at the Rafah border crossing this weekend. 

I met with injured Palestinian civilians and heard directly from our frontline humanitarian colleagues.

They are veterans of some of the worst humanitarian crises in recent decades. 

They have seen it all. 

And yet, without exception, they told me they have never seen anything as horrible as what is happening in Gaza today. 

The scale and speed of the death and destruction are on an entirely different level. 

And now starvation is bearing down on Palestinians in Gaza. 

There is a growing consciousness around the world that all of this must stop.

The fighting must end now, the hostages must be released now, and we must not lose sight of the big picture.

A lasting end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only come through a two-State solution.

Israelis must see their legitimate needs for security materialized, and Palestinians must see their legitimate aspirations for a fully independent, viable and sovereign State realized, in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements.

We know where the alternative would lead. 

To indefinitely prolonging a conflict that has become a major threat to global peace and security.

To exacerbating polarization.

To emboldening extremists everywhere.   

Those standing in the way of a two-state solution have an obligation to state clearly the alternative.

How would the future look with such a large number of Palestinians inside without any real sense of freedom, rights and dignity?  

This would be inconceivable. 

The two-State solution is the only way to address the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.

I know it is easy to be cynical in today’s world.  But that’s a luxury we cannot afford. 

Cynicism is a form of surrender to the prevailing assumptions of the moment. 

It is a refuge for those too weak, too narrow, too timid to imagine a better future. 

When things are difficult, we must try even harder. 

I will keep pushing for peace inspired by your example.

Once again, thank you, Mr. Foreign Minister, and the government and people of Jordan for leading the way to solidarity and peace.