During his opening address at the 34th Arab League summit in Baghdad, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Gaza and urged an end to the blockade preventing humanitarian aid from reaching the region.

Guterres condemned what he described as 'collective punishment' of the Palestinian people and rejected the displacement of Gaza's residents.

He also called for the release of prisoners and highlighted the deteriorating conditions in the West Bank, reaffirming that the only resolution to the conflict between Palestinians and Israel is through a two-state solution.

In relation to Lebanon, Guterres stressed the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, acknowledging the commitment of its leaders to control the arms within its territory.

Regarding Syria, he underscored the necessity of maintaining the state's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, advocating for a politically-led process that is owned by the Syrian people, and ensuring the protection of rights and participations of all Syrians, irrespective of their religion or ethnicity.