UN chief urges world not to be intimidated by Israel

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told AFP on Friday that the world should not be “intimidated” by Israel or its gradual annexation of the occupied West Bank.

Speaking at UN headquarters in New York, Guterres also called for stronger climate action, warning that efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels are at risk of “collapsing.”

His remarks came ahead of the UN’s high-level week, during which 10 countries are expected to recognize a Palestinian state, despite strong Israeli objections.

The annual gathering of over 140 heads of state and government, which temporarily paralyzes parts of Manhattan, will likely focus on the future of the Palestinians and the war in Gaza.

Israel has reportedly threatened to annex parts of the West Bank if Western nations move forward with the recognition plan.

But Guterres stressed, “We should not feel intimidated by the risk of retaliation,” adding that international pressure could help prevent further annexation.

Describing the situation in Gaza, he said, “What we are witnessing is horrendous. It is the worst level of death and destruction I have seen in my time as Secretary-General, probably in my life.

The suffering of the Palestinian people cannot be described—famine, lack of effective health care, and inadequate shelter in overcrowded areas.”

Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for annexing parts of the West Bank to “bury the idea of a Palestinian state,” after several countries supported France’s push for recognition.

Meanwhile, Israel’s ally, the United States, has refrained from criticizing either the Gaza conflict or Israel’s annexation plans and has criticized its allies for recognizing a Palestinian state.

Climate goals face collapse

Also on the agenda will be efforts to combat climate change which Guterres warned are floundering.

Guterres said efforts to cap climate warming at 1.5 Celsius above pre-industrial levels were in trouble.

The climate goals for 2035 of the countries that signed the Paris Agreement, also known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), were initially expected to be submitted several months ago.

However, uncertainties related to geopolitical tensions and trade rivalries have slowed the process.

“We are on the verge of this objective collapsing,” he told AFP.

“We absolutely need countries to come… with climate action plans that are fully aligned with 1.5 degrees (Celsius), that cover the whole of their economies and the whole of their greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

“It is essential that we have a drastic reduction of emissions in the next few years if you want to keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit alive.”

Less than two months before COP30 climate meeting in Brazil, dozens of countries have been slow to announce their plans particularly China and the European Union, powers considered pivotal for the future of climate diplomacy.

Efforts to combat the impact of man-made global warming have taken a backseat to myriad crises in recent years that have included the coronavirus pandemic and several wars, with Guterres seeking to reignite the issue.

The UN hopes that the climate summit co-chaired Wednesday in New York by Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be an opportunity to breathe life into efforts ahead of COP30.

Guterres said he was concerned that Nationally Determined Contributions, or national climate action plans, may not ultimately support the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

“It’s not a matter to panic. It’s a matter to be determined, to put all pressure for countries.”

Containing global warming to1.5C compared to the pre-industrial era 1850-1900 is the most ambitious goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

But many scientists agree that this threshold will most likely be reached before the end of this decade, as the planet continues to burn more and more oil, gas, and coal.

The climate is already on average 1.4C warmer today, according to current estimates from the European observatory Copernicus.