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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world should not be “intimidated” by Israel and its creeping annexation of the occupied West Bank, as the nearly two-year-long Israeli offensive in Gaza intensified yesterday, killing at least 51 people.

Guterres spoke to AFP on Friday ahead of the UN’s signature high-level week at which 10 countries will recognise a Palestinian state, according to France -- over fierce Israeli objections.

The meeting of more than 140 heads of state and government, which paralyses a corner of Manhattan for a week each year, will likely be dominated by the future of the Palestinians and the war in Gaza.

Israel has reportedly threatened

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