UN General Assembly opens with leaders condemning Israel over Gaza
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World leaders opened the 81st UN General Assembly high-level debate in New York on September 22 with sharp criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Jordan, Turkey, Brazil, and Qatar were among the first to condemn Israel, while France called the situation in Gaza a disgrace for all. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his final address, warned that violence and settlement expansion in the West Bank risk ethnic cleansing.
Key Facts
- The 81st UN General Assembly high-level debate began on September 22 in New York.
- Jordan, Turkey, Brazil, and Qatar criticized Israel's actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
- France called the situation in Gaza a disgrace for all.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres said violence, displacement, and settlement expansion in the West Bank risk ethnic cleansing.
- US President Donald Trump mentioned Israel only once in his 38-minute speech, referencing the October 7 attack anniversary.
Opening Day Criticism
The first day of the high-level debate saw dozens of leaders address the General Assembly, with Gaza and the occupied West Bank among the most mentioned topics. Jordan, Turkey, Brazil, and Qatar were among the first to criticize Israel's actions in these territories. France's leader called the situation in Gaza a disgrace for all. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and other UN officials also condemned Israel's actions.
Guterres' Final Address
In his last speech as UN Secretary-General, António Guterres said the chain of conflicts in the Middle East is escalating. He stated that civilians continue to pay the price of so-called ceasefires. Guterres called on leaders to stop the fighting and allow humanitarian aid. He described the 2023 Hamas attack as abhorrent terror and said it was followed by a large-scale assault on Palestinians in Gaza. Guterres said the situation in Gaza is a level of carnage and destruction he had not seen during his years as Secretary-General.
US and Legal References
US President Donald Trump claimed he ended the war in Gaza and mentioned Israel only once, when recalling the third anniversary of the October 7 attack. Guterres reminded the Assembly of the International Court of Justice's binding provisional measures in the genocide convention case. He called on all parties to comply with the court's decisions, which order Israel to prevent genocidal acts, punish incitement, allow humanitarian aid, and preserve evidence.
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