Samantha McClellan
The humanitarian crisis occurring in Gaza was the main topic among global leaders at the 2025 UN General Assembly (UNGA), which took place from September 23rd to 29th.
Most notably, delegates from 77 countries stepped out during the speech by the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. The main reason for this was the condemnation of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has killed or injured tens of thousands of Palestinians. Israel has used strikes, bombings, gunfire, forced hunger, and restricted humanitarian aid as tactics of warfare against the Palestinian people.
In Netanyahu’s speech to the UNGA, he stated that Israel will not stop fighting until Hamas is eradicated. In addition, he stated that Israel will not stop the war on Gaza until all the hostages are returned. There are currently 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. He expressed that countries who are recognizing the state of Palestine are “insane.” He also stated that the decision of the UN Commission of Inquiry to call the situation in Palestine a “genocide” is “baseless.” Since Israel launched the war on Hamas and Palestine, 65,549 people have died in Gaza.
Several countries took time in their speeches to condemn Israel’s actions and to call for action to stop the suffering of the Palestinian people.
The President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey asked, “Can we possibly have a reasonable reason for this brutality in 2025?” . Additionally, King Abdullah II of Jordan stated that failing to address the war on Gaza would “signal acceptance of the situation and abandonment of our humanity.”
The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas participated in speaking to the general assembly remotely. He stated that there has been “a war of genocide, destruction, starvation, and displacement.” He also stated that 220,000 people have been killed or injured in Gaza. He also emphasized the separation of the people of Palestine from the terrorist organization Hamas. .
It is clear that the war in Gaza has been one of the darkest events in history. Countries recognize this and want to end the humanitarian disaster that has taken place. Despite differences between nations, they have been able to set aside disagreements to call attention to the suffering and inhumane violations of human rights of Palestinians. What many countries are calling for is a ceasefire, recognition of a Palestinian state, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to help the people who are still suffering.