ALBAWABA- The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly opened in New York today, with searing indictments of Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, as world leaders from across regions accused Israel of committing genocide, defying international law, and plunging the global order into crisis.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres set the tone with a grim warning that the “pillars of peace and progress are buckling” under the weight of mounting conflicts, casting Gaza as a symbol of humanity’s collective failure.
He described the destruction of entire neighborhoods and the mass killing of civilians as a “moral catastrophe” requiring urgent international action to restore the rule of law over the logic of raw power.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered one of the most forceful rebukes, labeling Israel’s campaign a “genocide unmatched in the past century” and holding up photos of starving children to shame the global community.
He accused the United States of obstructing ceasefires and urged decisive pressure to stop the bloodshed and secure Palestinian statehood.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II struck a similarly impassioned note, repeatedly asking, “How long?” the world would tolerate Gaza’s devastation while Palestinians are denied equal rights.
He urged nations to end the blockade, enforce international law, and push forward a two-state solution before the conflict destabilizes the wider region.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani denounced Israel as a “rogue state” deliberately sabotaging ceasefire talks to impose its will on Arab neighbors and render Gaza unlivable.
He vowed that Doha would continue mediation efforts while rallying global opposition to what he called a campaign of systematic destruction that has killed tens of thousands.
From Europe, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez demanded tougher measures, including full UN membership for Palestine, sanctions on Israel, and even banning its participation in global sporting events. He argued that Europe’s credibility on human rights depends on confronting what he also described as genocide.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud called for immediate recognition of a Palestinian state across Gaza and the West Bank. He condemned Israel’s “brutal crimes” as the chief obstacle to peace and said Riyadh would play a leading role in reconstruction and diplomatic efforts.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Israel of exposing its “true nature” through a 23-month “genocidal rampage” that has killed over 70,000 people. He demanded concrete international action to dismantle the occupation and end the siege, saying Tehran is open to diplomacy if Israeli aggression halts.
Ahead of the UN meeting, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, warning of regional unraveling, rejected collective punishment and starvation tactics, saying the war threatened to undermine existing peace accords.
He pledged that Egypt would host a reconstruction conference after a ceasefire and called for unified Arab and Islamic efforts to secure humanitarian access and revive two-state negotiations.
