Israel, Palestine Trade Accusations as World Leaders Raise Alarm over Conflict’s Expanding Global Impact, during Day Three of General Assembly Debate
The Israel-Palestine conflict captured the attention of delegates gathered for day three of the General Assembly’s annual high-level debate, as leaders of both nations laid out starkly divergent views of a crisis that has inflamed the region and the world.
Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, speaking via pre-recorded video, as his delegation had been denied visas, said the Palestinian people today face one of the most dangerous phases in their history. Noting the “genocidal war that has created an unprecedented human tragedy” in the Gaza Strip, he said: “The danger is no longer limited to undermining the two-State solution; it threatens the very existence of the Palestinian people.” Israeli extremism is expanding its colonial project to create the so-called Greater Israel.
Disappointed that many of the aims of Council resolution 2803 (2025) have not materialized, he stressed that the transitional phase must not become permanent. It must lead to the reunification of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and President Donald J. Trump must honour his commitment to prevent the annexation of Palestinian territory. “We warn you today: Do not allow another Nakba to occur”, Mr. Abbas said.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, retorted that Palestinian attacks against his country are not covered in the international press or social media. Instead, attention is focused on the 150 juvenile delinquents who throw stones or chop olive trees or “occasionally” light some fires. “That is what they call settler violence”, he said, describing settlers as “peaceful”, “law-abiding” and “honourable”.
Devastating Iran's nuclear facilities “was one of the easiest decisions” he made “because if we hadn't done it, we would all be dead now”, he said. On 7 October, “Hamas terrorists committed the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust”, “burned babies alive in front of their parents” and “brutally raped our women”, he said. It was like “16 9/11s”, he stressed, adding that Israel rose “and fought back like lions”.
‘Everyone is Being Harmed’ by Resulting Food, Energy Crises
Other delegates weighed in on the Middle East conflict’s expanding impact around the world. Azali Assoumani, President of Comoros, said the devastating war, which has led to the paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz, has spread to Syria and Lebanon because of Israel’s military operations. In addition to the global shock it has caused, this conflict threatens food and energy security in vulnerable countries such as Comoros, which remain highly dependent on imports, he said. He also stressed that the international community will regain its credibility when it implements UN resolutions, including the two-State solution, “with Israel and Palestine coexisting peacefully.”
Luís Montenegro, Prime Minister of Portugal, pointed to “the humanitarian tragedy” in the Middle East and voiced support for the two-State solution. He condemned the actions of Iran, as well as those of its affiliated groups. Attacks on neighbouring countries, merchant ships and civilian structures must end. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz must end as well, he stressed, also calling for an end to the Russian Federation’s illegal aggression against Ukraine.
“Everyone is being harmed” by the consequences of the energy and fuel crisis, Mr. Montenegro declared. “We must put an end to this collective masochism”, he said, calling for mitigation and suggesting that the mechanisms determining the price of oil could be discussed.
John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana, warned of “a dangerous drift towards unilateralism, lawlessness and the erosion of multilateral norms”. On Gaza, he urged the international community to “stop using diplomatic euphemisms to veil the human carnage”, while reaffirming support for a two-State solution and condemning “all acts of terrorism by Hamas”.
András Baka, the recently elected President of Hungary, agreed that Israelis and Palestinians must be able to live in security and dignity. Further, he pledged to fight illegal migration and the criminal networks that profit from it, while respecting human dignity and the protection given to refugees. “But security is not only about borders and wars”, he said, adding: “People also need the chance to build a future where they live.”
Multilateralism under Attack, Solution Lies in Diplomacy
Among crises including climate catastrophe, food insecurity, the horror of genocide and widening inequality between nations, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, said that the most troubling of all was perhaps “a weakening of multilateralism itself”. Though, “within every crisis lies a summons to solutions”, he said, adding that guns could be silenced through diplomacy.
Addressing several conflicts, he voiced support for the two-State solution, called for an end to the Russian Federation-Ukraine war, as well as for a viable solution for Cuba and steady international support for Haiti to achieve stability.
Muhammed Jallow, Vice President of Gambia, said that Gambia’s own experience within the Organization, as chair of the General Assembly’s Second Committee (Economic and Financial) during the eightieth Assembly session, shows that multilateralism can still deliver. Even with profound disagreement over consequential economic and development issues, progress was made. “That experience reminded us that multilateralism does not require unanimity on every issue,” he said. “It requires the willingness to remain at the table, to listen, to negotiate, and to have the courage to compromise.” The stakes are greatest in international peace and security. “Surely we can summon the same political courage to prevent conflicts, resolve wars and build lasting peace,” he said.
Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister, Minister for Economic Affairs and Development and Minister for National Security of Barbados, said that “without an equitable rules-based order, smaller States — like mine — will simply cease to exist”. This is why Barbados is a cosponsor of the P4M, a grouping focused on strengthening multilateralism.
Stressing that Uruguay will continue to promote dialogue through multilateralism and cooperation in line with international law, its President, Yamandú Orsi, who assumed office in March 2025, called for renewed trust and to “refuse inertia”. Instead of accepting inequality as inevitable, war as permanent and poverty as destiny, the international community can choose another path. “We share the same planet and, ultimately, the same destiny”, he said, stressing the importance of the UN in today’s world while recognizing that it must evolve to meet the moment.
José Manuel Restrepo, Vice President of Colombia, speaking on behalf of newly elected President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office in August, asked: “Are we dedicating too many resources and too much energy to administering procedures and too little to solving problems?” Rather than “globalism”, he advocated “cooperation without subordination” and multilateralism that preserves national sovereignty and identity. Member States should also agree on a common legal definition of terrorism and strengthen intelligence-sharing, judicial cooperation and measures against terrorist financing.
Janez Janša, Prime Minister of Slovenia, said to regain the public’s trust, the UN needs to apply its own principles consistently and establish an independent mechanism that annually compares the scale, duration, and severity of major crises with the scale and nature of the international response, not to dictate political verdicts, but show “our own patterns of selectivity”.
Middle Powers: Emerging Leaders in Global Governance
Other speakers said that as major Powers drift from multilateral commitments, middle Powers have a crucial role in shaping the future of global governance.
Rob Jetten, Prime Minister and Minister for General Affairs of the Netherlands, cited attempts to undermine the International Criminal Court — “based in my country, in my city” — which was built on the foundations of the Nuremberg and Tokyo Trials. “After all, how can you possibly be opposed to prosecuting the very worst crimes?” he asked, calling on middle Powers like his to take the lead in fostering international cooperation in everything from human rights to climate action.
“As a middle power, Australia is showing leadership and working with others on fresh ideas to tackle the big issues now facing the world,” said Anthony Albanese, its Prime Minister.
“Shaping a secure, peaceful and prosperous world is a task for all of us”, he said, stressing that is why Australia is seeking a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2029-2030. “We seek to amplify the voices of small and mid-sized States to ensure Council decisions are informed by the widest possible perspectives,” he said.