UN Chief, World Leaders Condemn Israel's Actions in Gaza and West Bank

UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the General Assembly in New York with a strong condemnation of Israel, accusing its actions in the West Bank of destroying the path to peace and raising fears of ethnic cleansing. Regarding Gaza, he stated that Hamas's October 7th terror attacks were followed by an offensive resulting in unprecedented death and destruction during his tenure. Guterres called for an end to the war, noting that ceasefires had proven ineffective, and urged all parties to comply with the International Court of Justice's orders. He described the suffering of Palestinians, including starvation, lack of medical care, and living in overcrowded, shelterless areas, and while not legally determining genocide, he emphasized the reality on the ground.

Jordan's King Abdullah II echoed this strong stance, accusing Israel of working to erase the Palestinian presence through parallel actions: destruction in Gaza and de facto annexation in the West Bank. He asserted that Israel's goal is to make a Palestinian state impossible and that international decisions are disregarded when it comes to Israel. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized the Security Council's inaction and declared that generations of Palestinians would bear the trauma of the "genocide of women and children" committed by the Netanyahu government.

Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani defined the events in Gaza as genocide in all respects. Al Thani also addressed regional tensions, calling for diplomatic solutions to the Gulf crisis and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan concluded the condemnations by urging global recognition of a Palestinian state and increased pressure on Israel. He criticized the UN's inability to maintain peace, expressed regret over Mahmoud Abbas's absence from the assembly, and mentioned Turkey's efforts to end the conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.