António Guterres (UN Secretary-General) on the situation in the Middle East - Security Council Media Stakeout

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Ladies and gentlemen of the media, Thank you very much for your presence. Justice is meant to be blind. But today, too many are choosing to turn a blind eye to justice itself. Around the world – and starkly in the Middle East – respect for international law is being trampled. Rules governing the use of force and the conduct of hostilities are ignored. Civilians are exposed to intolerable harm. Humanitarian obligations are disregarded. Even the protections afforded to the United Nations and our personnel are violated. This wholesale assault on international law has consequences. Lawlessness breeds chaos. Lawlessness fuels suffering. Lawlessness leads to destruction. This is not the moment to retreat from international law. It is the moment to reaffirm it. That is why later this week, I will travel to The Hague to mark the eightieth anniversary of the International Court of Justice. The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and a pillar of the international legal order. For eight decades, the Court has fulfilled that role with distinction. But this visit is not simply about commemorating an anniversary. It is about sending an unmistakable message. A message that the United Nations stands firmly behind the institutions and principles designed to protect peace, justice, sovereignty and human dignity. A message that international law applies to all States, without exception, and that respect for its rules is not optional. A message that in a world moving toward greater fragmentation and sharper power competition, international law is indispensable. Without it, instability spreads, mistrust deepens, and conflicts spiral out of control. This applies everywhere – and it applies urgently to the conflict in the Middle East. There is no military solution to this crisis. Peace agreements require persistent engagement and political will. Serious negotiations must resume. The ceasefire must be preserved – and extended as necessary. And international navigational rights and freedoms – including in the Strait of Hormuz – must be respected by all parties. It is time for restraint and responsibility. It is time for diplomacy over escalation. It is time for a renewed commitment to international law. Thank you.