World leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly in New York to address mounting international tensions, with particular focus on the ongoing Gaza conflict and its regional implications. The assembly featured sharp exchanges and declarations from key Middle Eastern and Western leaders, highlighting deep divisions over the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and broader geopolitical issues.
Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani delivered one of the most pointed critiques, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of harboring expansionist ambitions. "Netanyahu dreams of turning the Arab region into an Israeli sphere of influence," al-Thani declared during his UN address. He further alleged that "Israel's goals in the Gaza war are ethnic cleansing and imposing new facts on the ground," while claiming the Israeli government had "abandoned the goal of freeing hostages" in favor of destroying Gaza. The Qatari leader also condemned Israel's recent attack in Doha as "not legitimate," describing it as "a treacherous attack that resulted in the death of six people, including a security forces member."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made equally strong statements, displaying photographs from Gaza during his speech and declaring that "Israel's madness fuels antisemitism worldwide." Erdogan argued that Netanyahu was "not interested in releasing hostages" and accused the Israeli government of being "obsessed with the Promised Land" while threatening regional security. He emphasized that "in Gaza they are dying of starvation, not just weapons" and called what was happening there "genocide, not a war on terror."
U.S. President Donald Trump addressed multiple global issues during his remarks, claiming he had "ended seven wars in seven months," including what he described as an "Israel-Iran war." Trump made several controversial statements, including claims about destroying Iran's nuclear facilities "three months ago with operation 'Midnight Hammer'" and asserting that "climate change is the biggest fraud." Regarding the Gaza situation, Trump called for the release of "all 20 hostages" (though 48 hostages remain in Hamas captivity) and criticized countries recognizing Palestinian statehood as "giving Hamas a big reward for their atrocities."
Several world leaders expressed strong criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza. Brazilian President Lula da Silva stated that "tens of thousands of innocent women and children are buried under the rubble in Gaza," calling the situation an "ongoing genocide." Jordan's King Abdullah described the Gaza war as "one of the darkest events in UN history" and characterized the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as "an illegal occupation of a helpless people by a state that claims to be democratic."
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei addressed nuclear concerns, claiming that "Tehran does not aspire to possess nuclear bombs" and stating that "we have dozens of nuclear scientists, science cannot be destroyed through attacks." Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, declaring that "nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people" while also condemning Hamas's October 7 attack.
The assembly witnessed a wave of Palestinian state recognition announcements. France's President Macron formally declared France's recognition of Palestinian statehood, followed by similar announcements from Belgium, Norway, Malta, Luxembourg, Monaco, and Andorra. However, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that Rome would only recognize a Palestinian state "on condition that all hostages are released and that Hamas has no role in the future government."
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made a significant commitment, announcing his country's readiness to "send troops as part of an international force in Gaza when a ceasefire is achieved." He emphasized that Indonesia, as "one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping forces," would serve "not just with words but with forces on the ground."
On the ground, tensions continued to escalate with reports of violence in the West Bank. Palestinian sources reported that a 20-year-old man named Said Naasan was shot dead by settlers near Ramallah, with local officials claiming settlers arrived "under IDF protection" and opened fire in a public park. Meanwhile, Israeli military operations continued in Gaza, with reports of tank movements in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City and the distribution of evacuation leaflets in central areas of the city.
The families of hostages held in Gaza maintained their pressure on the Israeli government, with representatives stating they would "accompany Netanyahu everywhere" and travel to New York to continue their protests. The family of hostage Eitan Horn, marking his 39th birthday in captivity, emphasized that "the hostages are just one decision away" from freedom and called for a deal to end the war and bring everyone home.
As the UN General Assembly continued, the stark divisions between world leaders underscored the complex challenges facing international diplomacy in addressing the Gaza conflict and broader Middle Eastern tensions, with little apparent consensus on a path forward.
