Guyana reaffirms support for two-state solution, calls for end to Gaza conflict

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd has once again underscored Guyana’s unwavering support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, urging the international community to step up pressure on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories.

Speaking on Tuesday at the 10003rd meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) under the agenda item “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,” Minister Todd said the prolonged cycle of Israeli aggression cannot remain the defining feature of Middle Eastern politics.

“The war in Gaza has become a catalyst for pain and pressure, targeting thousands of Palestinians through starvation, bombardment, displacement and other cruelties designed to subjugate a people,” Todd said. “We have seen, for example, how famine unfolded in Gaza in full view of the international community, and yet 192 countries could not stop it.”

He noted that political and diplomatic pressure appear to be the only avenues through which Israel may respond to mounting international condemnation, stressing that countries must ensure their engagements with Israel do not serve to prolong the war or the oppression of Palestinians.

Drawing parallels with the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa, Todd argued that the occupation of Palestinian lands requires the same kind of unified and organised international response. Recognition of Palestine by all UN member states, he said, is critical to advancing that goal.

The minister pointed to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which confirmed Israel’s prolonged occupation is illegal under international law and must be terminated. He reminded the Council that the UN General Assembly had set a September 18, 2025 deadline for Israel to end its occupation—a date that has passed without compliance.

“Instead, we have witnessed a series of developments that entrench the occupation even further and erode the prospects of a two-state solution,” Todd warned. He called on Israel to respect the UN Charter, adhere to the resolutions of the Security Council and General Assembly, and commit to genuine peace.

According to him, the occupation and its humanitarian consequences represent a “historic tragedy” that should shock the conscience of the world. He urged peace-loving nations to continue defending Palestinians and to resist all attempts to erase them from their homeland.

Closing his address, Todd reaffirmed Guyana’s position: “We remain committed to the two-state solution and to the rule of law as the guiding principle in this decades-long struggle. We again call for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and detainees, unimpeded humanitarian access, and an immediate halt to actions that are dismantling the two-state solution.”