NEW YORK: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday issued a strongly worded warning against “any form of ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians, while also underscoring the importance of adhering “to the bedrock of international law.”

His comments came after US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a proposed takeover of Gaza under which the entire population of the enclave would be relocated to other countries.

“The US will take over the Gaza Strip,” Trump said in a White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We’ll own it ... We have an opportunity to do something that could be phenomenal ... the Riviera of the Middle East.”

Trump added: “ We should go to other countries of interest with humanitarian hearts, and there are many of them that want to do this, and build various domains that will ultimately be occupied by the 1.8 million Palestinians living in Gaza, ending the death and destruction and, frankly, bad luck.”

However, the UN secretary-general warned that “in the search for solutions, we must not make the problem worse.”

Guterres said that it is “vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law (and) essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing.”

Speaking in New York at the opening of the 2025 session of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, he called for a renewed commitment to ensuring Palestinians can “simply live as human beings in their own land.”

He added: “We have seen the realization of those rights steadily slip farther out of reach.

“We have seen a chilling, systematic dehumanization and demonization of an entire people.”

The UN chief described “the catalogue of destruction and unspeakable horrors” as a result of 15 months of war on Gaza, in which nearly 50,000 people have been killed, 70 percent of them women and children.

He also condemned the destruction of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and water facilities.

“The overwhelming majority of the entire population have faced displacement after displacement, hunger, and disease,” said Guterres.

“Children, out of school for over a year. A generation left homeless and traumatized.”

He said: “I welcome the ceasefire and hostage release deal. I thank the mediators — Egypt, Qatar, and the US — for the continued efforts to ensure implementation.

“Now is the time to be crystal clear about objectives going forward.”

While acknowledging the recent truce and freeing of captives held by Hamas, Guterres urged continued efforts for lasting peace.

“We must keep pushing for a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages without delay. We cannot go back to more death and destruction,” he said.

The UN is working tirelessly to provide humanitarian aid, he added, emphasizing the need for rapid, safe, and sustained access to those in need.

Guterres called for the international community to support the essential work of the UN Relief and Works Agency, which provides services to Palestinian refugees.

He reiterated the UN’s commitment to the two-state solution as the only viable path to a lasting peace.

“A viable, sovereign Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel is the only sustainable solution for Middle East stability,” he said.

The path to this solution, Guterres said, requires tangible, irreversible progress toward ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state with Gaza as an integral part.

The UN chief also expressed deep concern about rising violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, particularly acts of aggression by Israeli settlers.

“As affirmed by the International Court of Justice, Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territory must end,” said Guterres.

He called for a halt to the violence and for those responsible to be held accountable in accordance with international law.

Additionally, he emphasized the importance of preserving the unity and integrity of occupied Palestinian territory, including efforts to rebuild Gaza after its devastation.

“International law must be respected, and accountability ensured,” Guterres said.

He also stressed the importance of supporting the Palestinian Authority to foster unity and governance, which are essential for a viable future for Palestinians.

“We must work toward preserving the unity, contiguity, and integrity of the occupied Palestinian territory and the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza.

“A strong and unified Palestinian governance is crucial.

“The international community must support the Palestinian Authority to this end,” he said.