UN Chief Warns Civilians Bear the Heaviest Toll of Global Conflicts
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that civilians continue to bear the heaviest burden of armed conflicts across the world, urging the international community to prioritize diplomacy and peaceful dialogue to prevent further human suffering.
Speaking on Thursday, 23 July 2026, during a United Nations Security Council debate on strengthening mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes under Security Council Resolution 2788 (2025), Guterres said the Middle East is “getting out of control” and is “teetering on the edge of the unimaginable.”
He warned that geopolitical divisions should not become an excuse for inaction, saying the growing number, complexity and duration of conflicts are being accompanied by increasing disregard for international law and accountability.
Guterres said every violation of international law that goes unanswered sets a dangerous precedent, making future peace negotiations more difficult and eroding trust between parties.
Turning to the Middle East, the UN chief said the region is being drawn into an expanding cycle of confrontation, with one crisis fuelling another.
He expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where civilians continue to suffer despite what he described as a so-called ceasefire. He also raised concerns about violence, settlement expansion, Israeli military operations and large-scale displacement in the occupied West Bank.
Beyond the Middle East, Guterres pointed to ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, the Sahel, Sudan and other regions, saying millions of people continue to endure severe humanitarian hardships, displacement and the loss of livelihoods.
Referring to Security Council Resolution 2788 (2025), Guterres said diplomacy, although it may not have prevented every conflict, still offers the strongest opportunity to end wars and prevent further escalation.
He urged Security Council members to keep channels of dialogue open, embrace compromise and work together to pursue peaceful solutions to international disputes.
Concluding his address, Guterres said lasting peace can only be achieved through sustained dialogue, mutual trust and a collective commitment to diplomacy, calling on world leaders to spare no effort in pursuing peaceful settlement of disputes in line with the founding principles of the United Nations.
