UN Secretary-General António Guterres stands as a resolute advocate for peace and justice amid escalating Middle Eastern conflict, challenging powerful leaders and calling for an immediate end to violence.

The ongoing conflict and intensifying violence in the Middle East defy any rational assessment. The toll is staggering: countless innocent lives have been lost, including an estimated 42,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, with tens of thousands more displaced and homeless. Recent reports indicate nearly 1,000 people in Lebanon have also perished, victims of escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The U.S. has now deployed advanced anti-missile defense systems and 100 American troops to Israel as both countries prepare for a potential confrontation with Iran. The world watches, seemingly paralyzed by the unfolding chaos. But United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stands firm against it all.

Today, the notion of standing by while such atrocities unfold is indefensible. Leaders like Netanyahu cannot be allowed to operate under the guise of self-defense while disregarding international law and United Nations resolutions. The Israeli response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack—a horrific event, yes, but part of a larger narrative—cannot alone justify the scale of devastation we’re witnessing. Before that fateful day, relative calm seemed to persist, marred only by an Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, an act widely condemned as a violation of international law under the Geneva Conventions. That incident, coupled with Israel’s long-standing occupation and its harsh treatment of Palestinians, set the stage for the current crisis. Hamas’s attack may have handed Israel a pretext for full-scale war, but the roots run deeper.

The international community, including the Global South and the International Court of Justice, views Netanyahu’s administration as the aggressor here, their position shaped by years of observing Israel’s history of civilian casualties. The Secretary-General of the United Nations stands as one of the few vocal advocates for peace and justice in this turmoil, drawing the ire of Israel’s leadership. Recently, Israel’s foreign minister went so far as to declare Guterres “persona non grata,” barring him from entering the country. This drastic measure seems, at best, a deflection, with Israel citing Guterres’s lack of condemnation toward Iran’s recent actions. But the world increasingly views Israel’s post-October 7 actions as a form of systematic violence against Palestinians, a sentiment not shared, notably, by the United States.

Israel’s record on Palestinian rights predates the rise of Hamas in 2006, extending back through decades of occupation. To analyze Israel’s assault on Gaza solely through the prism of October 7 is to obscure a longer, painful history. Yet, this simplified narrative is used widely across Western political and media channels, obscuring complexities that make these conflicts more than just “defensive actions.”

A year has passed since the Hamas attack that left nearly 1,200 Israelis dead—a horrifying tragedy that must be acknowledged. However, as history demonstrates, these acts of violence are not born in a vacuum; they reflect the desperation of a population under prolonged and harsh conditions. Former British Prime Minister David Cameron famously described Gaza as the “largest open-air prison.” This phrase captures the daily reality for Gazans and underscores the larger dynamics at play—Israel’s control over Gaza makes it impossible to ignore the power imbalance between prisoners and their guards.

In this context, António Guterres has emerged as a voice of conviction and moral clarity. His calls for peace, human rights, and adherence to international law have drawn heavy criticism from Israeli leaders. Just days ago, he reaffirmed his stance, stating, “We cannot and will not give up on our calls for an immediate ceasefire both in Gaza and Lebanon, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, and immediate lifesaving aid to all those who desperately need it.” This, it seems, is the “crime” for which Israel seeks to punish him.

Now, more than ever, the UN Security Council must fulfill its mandate to maintain global peace and security. The suffering endured by Palestinians—and by all victims of this conflict—demands justice and a concerted push for peace. The United Nations was established to prevent exactly this kind of devastation and to avert global conflicts that could spiral into larger, more destructive wars. With the specter of nuclear escalation looming, António Guterres’s steadfast leadership is a call to action for world leaders. They must support his efforts toward peace without hesitation. The stakes—human life, regional stability, and global security—have never been higher.