• Biden decried the rise of attacks in Israeli-occupied territories: “[We] must also address the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank and set the conditions for a better future, including a two-state solution.”
• He called for an end to fighting in Sudan a day after naming the United Arab Emirates – which has been accused of fueling Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacks with illegal weapons transfers – a “major defence partner”.
• The US president said world leaders must do more to invest in sustainable development goals, cut greenhouse emissions, prepare for pandemics, stop the illegal flow of weapons, and monitor the effects of artificial intelligence.
• Biden reiterated that the US supports reforming and expanding the UN Security Council. The United States, however, does not support adding more veto members, such as itself.
• He ended by discussing his decision not to run for re-election, which he announced in July. “My fellow leaders, let us never forget some things are more important than staying in power – it’s your people,” he said.

• Some people will be critical of us, but despite that today, on the common rostrum of the human race, we will speak of the truth frankly and openly.
• The United Nations, under the roof of which we are today, was established in the aftermath of World War II, in which millions of people lost their lives to maintain international peace and security.
• With the establishment of the United Nations, expectations for global stability, peace and justice were reborn.
• To put it bluntly, unfortunately, in the last few years, the United Nations has failed to fulfil its founding mission and has gradually become a dysfunctional structure.

Jordan’s King Abdullah: UN faces ‘crisis that strikes at its very legitimacy’

The leader of Jordan – which borders the occupied West Bank and hosts a large number of Palestinian refugees – issued a stark warning about the “legitimacy” of the United Nations.

That comes as UN facilities and staff continue to be attacked in Gaza and rulings by the UN’s International Court of Justice are ignored.

“The UN is under attack, literally and figuratively,” King Abdullah II said. “The United Nations is facing a crisis that strikes at its very legitimacy and threatens a collapse of global trust and moral authority.

“The harsh reality that many see is that some nations are above international law, that global justice does bend to the will of powers, and human rights are a selective a privilege to be granted or denied at will. We cannot stand for that,” he added.

“It often feels that there was not a moment our world was not in turmoil, and yet I cannot recall a time of greater peril than this.”

World ‘will never accept’ forced displacement of Palestinians: Jordan’s king

King Abdullah decried the war in Gaza, the spike in fighting in the occupied West Bank, and the escalation in Lebanon. He warned that “impunity gathers force, and left unchecked, it gains momentum”.

“It is the moral duty of this international community to establish a protection mechanism for them across the occupied temple,” he said, adding “We will never accept the forced displacement of Palestinians, which is a war crime.”

“For decades, Israel has projected itself as a thriving Western-style democracy in the Middle East, but the brutality of the war on Gaza has forced the world to look closer,” said King Abdullah. “Now many see Israel through the eyes of its victims, and the contradiction, the paradox is too jarring.

“I call on all countries to join Jordan in enforcing an international Gaza humanitarian gateway, a massive relief effort to deliver food, clean water, medicine and other vital supplies to those in desperate need.”

Jordan and Israel normalised ties in 1994, and the kingdom continues to manage the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem.

Guatemalan leader takes swipe at UN Security Council vetoes

President Bernardo Arevalo expressed a sentiment felt by many smaller UN member states when it comes to the Security Council.

Currently, only five countries – China, France, Russia, the UK and the US – are able to veto resolutions on the 15-member panel, often leaving it hamstrung. The US has repeatedly used its power to shield Israel, while Russia has used the veto to block condemnation of its actions in Ukraine.

Arevalo said those who carry the veto power use it to “avoid decisions taken that are hard hitting against those states which repeatedly violate the charter of [the UN]”.

“Let us recall to the members of the Security Council that it is their primary responsibility to maintain international peace and international security, and that in the performance of its functions, it must proceed according to the purposes and principles of the United Nations,” he said.

Arevalo also condemned what he described as the degradation of democracy in Nicaragua and Venezuela and promised to support to crisis-wracked Haiti.

He also said the root causes of migration and climate change need to be addressed and “reaffirmed commitment” to resolving an ongoing border dispute with neighbouring Belize at the UN’s top court.

Ceasefire resolutions on Gaza, Sudan must be ‘implemented and upheld’: Swiss president

Viola Amherd said the protection of civilians in conflict “must be granted more importance” by both the Security Council and wider General Assembly.

“Not only are people and civilian infrastructure insufficiently protected, but they are coming under repeated attack, we can see violations of international humanitarian law in Myanmar, in Ukraine, in the Middle East, and in Sudan,” Switzerland’s president said.

She pointed to ceasefire resolutions that have been passed by the UNGA for both Gaza and Sudan.

“There is an urgent need for these resolutions to be implemented and upheld,” she said.

‘When Gaza dies, humanity will die’: Colombia president

Colombia’s first leftist president says only the voices of the most powerful countries are heard on the international stage.

“The power to destroy life is the power that allows voices to reverberate throughout United Nations,” Gustavo Petro said, equating influence at the organisation to military might.

“We speak here, but we’re not listened to,” Petro added, decrying the influence of the wealthy over conflict, climate change, and inequality.

This is particularly felt when it comes to Israel’s war on Gaza – and the political cover offered by some powerful countries, he said.

“When Gaza dies, humanity will die,” Petro said. “The whole of humanity. [Israeli President Benjamin] Netanyahu, as a criminal, is letting those bombs rain down on Gaza.”

Qatari leader condemns ‘blatant aggression’ against Palestinians

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani called Israel’s attack on Gaza “the most barbaric, heinous and extensive aggression, violating human values, international conventions and norms”.

“We oppose violence and the targeting of innocent civilians by any party. But after a year of this war and with all that has taken place and continues to take place, it is no longer tenable to talk about Israel’s ‘right to defend itself’ in this context without being complicit in justifying the crime,” Sheikh Tamim said.

“It is no longer plausible for any official to claim they do not know. The facts are well known: reports issued by international organisations about the bombing of schools and hospitals, weaponising access to food and medicine, in addition to the published and publicly uttered intentions of Israeli leaders.

“Therefore, the failure to intervene to stop the aggression is a major scandal.”

‘Illusions of making peace’ without just solution for the Palestinians

The Palestinian cause will not be marginalised and go away through the “disappearance of the Palestinian people”, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani says.

“Every year I stand on this podium and I begin by talking about the Palestinian cause, the absence of justice, the perils of believing that it can be neglected, and the illusions of making peace without a just solution to the Palestinian cause,” Sheikh Tamim said.

“There are those who are tempted by the possibility of marginalising this issue to get rid of its burden. But the Palestinian cause is resistant to marginalisation because it is an issue of Indigenous people on their own land, a people who are subjected to a settler-colonial occupation.

“It seems there are those in Israel who entertain wishful thinking to eliminate the Palestinian people,” he said.

“The ongoing Israeli aggression for nearly a year is nothing but a result of the absence of a sincere political will, a deliberate international failure to resolve the Palestinian issue with a just solution, and insistence of the occupying Israel parties to impose a fait accompli on the Palestinians and the world.”

Qatari leader condemns Haniyeh assassination, will continue mediation efforts

The Qatari leader’s speech has focused heavily on the war in Gaza. Qatar has been one of the main mediators in ceasefire talks.

Sheikh Tamim condemned the Israeli assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, the lead Hamas negotiator in talks. Despite those challenges Qatar “will continue our efforts of mediation to resolve the disputes through peaceful means”.

“We will not achieve this goal except with a serious partner who is aware of the importance of renouncing this war and ending the occupation and all forms of aggression so we can reach together the desired peace in the Middle East,” said Sheikh Tamim.

He further condemned last week’s device attacks on Lebanon, in which thousands of electronic devices were detonated “with total disregard for their identity or location”.

“Israel is currently waging a war on Lebanon, and no one knows to what extent this war could escalate. This is what we have repeatedly warned against.”

Qatar continues to seek peace in Syria, Libya, Sudan, Yemen and Ukraine

Sheikh Tamim concluded his address saying Doha will work for peace across the Middle East and beyond.

He pointed to Qatari-led efforts to secure a US-Venezuela prisoner swap and to reunite Ukrainian children with their families.

“We affirm the state of Qatar will spare no effort in working with its international partners and the United Nations to firmly consolidate the pillars of peace, security, sustainable development, human rights and the rule of law – at all levels – and to address global challenges to achieve a better future for all.”

South Africa’s Ramaphosa recounts UN support against apartheid

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recalled the end of apartheid and the UN’s support to “turn the tide against apartheid” during his opening remarks.

“Genocide was declared to be a stain on the conscience of the world, and the world community took a stand against genocide. Apartheid was declared a crime against humanity and a stain on the conscience of the world.

“The United Nations took a stand against apartheid; these were seen as crimes against humanity then, and they continue to be crimes against humanity now. It has been 11 months since the Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and where hostages were taken. As South Africa, we have condemned this attack,” Ramaphosa said, but noted Israel undertook an act of “collective punishment” on Palestinians in response.

‘Famine and disease stalk the streets of Gaza’

President Ramaphosa says Israel’s “torment” of Gaza continues “unabated” as more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed.

“Famine and disease stalk the streets of Gaza. This cannot but shock our collective humanity. The violence the Palestinian people are being subjected to is a grim continuation of more than half a century of apartheid that has been perpetrated against Palestinians by Israel.

“We South Africans know what apartheid looks like. We lived through apartheid. We suffered and died under apartheid. We will not remain silent and watch as apartheid is perpetrated against others.

“Through the United Nations and the instruments it wields, we must end the suffering that Palestinians are being subjected to.”

He added international law cannot be applied “selectively”, saying no one state is “more equal than any other”.

Ramphosa welcomes support for ICJ genocide case against Israel

South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel was filed as a state party to the Genocide Convention, President Ramaphosa says.

“We welcome the support that a number of countries have given to the case that we launched at the ICJ. The ICJ’s orders make it clear that there is a plausible case of genocide against the people of Gaza.

“They further make it clear that states must also act to prevent genocide by Israel and to ensure that they are not themselves party to the violation of the Genocide Convention by aiding or assisting in the commission of genocide,” he said.

“We reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire and for the release of all hostages. The only lasting solution is the establishment of a Palestinian state, a state that will exist side by side with Israel, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

South Africa leader calls for UN Security Council reform

President Ramaphosa called for the Security Council to be overhauled saying it must be a “more representative body and more inclusive”.

“Seventy-eight years since its formation, the structure of the United Nations Security Council remains largely unchanged. Africa and its 1.4 billion people remain excluded from its key decision-making structures. This cannot continue,” he said.

“The Security Council has not fulfilled its mandate to maintain international peace and security. The UN Security Council must be reformed as a matter of urgency.”

Maldives president condemns Israel’s ‘targeting of journalists’

Mohamed Muizzu, president of the South Asian island nation, directly focused on media workers targeted in Israel’s war on Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Lebanon.

“Israel’s targeting of journalists, the eyes and ears of humanity, the killing of journalists, Palestinian journalists, Lebanese journalists, Al Jazeera journalists, the closure of Al Jazeera officers,” Muizzu said, referring to the Israeli closure of Al Jazeera’s West Bank office over the weekend.

“How can we interpret this as anything other than brutal attempts to prevent the world from knowing about the crimes taking place?”

Maldives leader envisions path to tech-forward, ‘fully developed nation’

Muizzu said he hopes by 2040 the Maldives will be a “fully developed nation”.

“Prevailing and even thriving against formidable odds is nothing new for the Maldives,” he said, saying the country of about 500,000 people would seek to build a “digital economy” that harnesses the power of AI to boost housing, healthcare and climate resiliency.

“The Maldives has over 1,100 islands spread across 90,000sq km. Enhancing digital connectivity is key to achieving inclusive development, mobilising economic activity, and fostering a more diversified and resilient economy,” he said.

Small nations such as the Maldives “count on the support” of the UN members to meet development and climate goals, Muizzu added.

Sustainable development goals ‘in threat’: Tajikistan president

Emomali Rahmon – like most UNGA speakers today – pledged to meet the UN’s sustainable development goals as set out in the 2030 agenda.

He noted a recent report found the international community is on track to only achieve 17 percent of the goals by 2030.

“We need to intensify other efforts to implement the 2030 agenda in a timely manner and pay particular attention to the financing for sustainable development,” he said.

What are the sustainable development goals?

Israel decries ‘charade of hypocrisy’ at General Assembly

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, hit back at UN chief Antonio Guterres for raising the topic of the devastating war on Gaza, calling the General Assembly debate an “annual charade of hypocrisy”.

“When the UN secretary-general speaks about the release of our hostages, the UN assembly is silent. But when he speaks about the suffering in Gaza, he receives thunderous applause,” Danon said.

He also thanked the United States for its unwavering backing during the war.

“We appreciate the US support for Israel at this time when we are fighting against the forces of evil. A diplomatic move is always better than a confrontation, but after a year in which our hostages are being murdered in terror tunnels and the residents of the north cannot return to their homes, we are determined to restore security to our citizens in any possible way,” he said in a statement.

Russia invasion of Ukraine threat to ‘sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders’: Lithuania

Gitanas Nauseda, the president of Lithuania, has turned the attention to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling it an ongoing threat to “the entire international order defined by sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders”.

“In Ukraine, each and every member of the United Nations, every sovereign nation, has much to lose,” he said, referring to Russia’s invasion, which began in February of 2022.

“Right now, Ukraine is fighting not only a war of self defense, Ukraine is also fighting for the future of all those countries who believe in the United Nations Charter and its principles, Ukraine is fighting for us all, and yet our joint collective response to this day has been insufficient,” he said.

He accused Russia of “hiding under the cover of the Security Council’s permanent membership”, which gives it veto power against condemning resolutions.

Sierra Leone leaders calls on UN to support Africa-led peace initiatives

President Julius Maada Bio says that’s particularly true in the Sahel where military coups in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have exacerbated a wider security and humanitarian crisis.

“The safety and security of the people in the Sahel and parts of West Africa require a strong commitment from all relevant actors,” he said, adding countries on the “front line, especially Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger” must receive the needed support.

“Commitment to political transition is necessary, but should never be at the expense of the vulnerable,” he added.

“Africa has long been marginalised in global decision-making processes and its voices are often drowned out. The legacy of colonialism, economic exploitation and political marginalisation has left deep scars on the African continent, thereby affecting its development, stability and influence in international affairs.”

He called for Africa to have two permanent seats – with veto power – on the UN Security Council and two more seats on the wider council.

A common call: Reforming the UN Security Council

Many leaders speaking at the UNGA have demanded reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). But what is the UNSC, exactly?

The Security Council is the UN body primarily responsible for maintaining international peace and security. The full council was initially composed of 11 members, expanding to 15 in 1965.

These include the permanent five and 10 non-permanent members. The UNSC determines the existence of a threat to civic peace or an act of aggression. It also calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means. It can resort to imposing sanctions or authorise the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.

The United Nations itself grew out of World War II. And the “Big Five” members of the victorious allied coalition – the United States, Soviet Union, China, the United Kingdom and France – became permanent members of the UNSC.

Each UNSC member country gets one vote. But all the permanent members – the so-called P5 – have the power to veto any council decision.

UNRWA boss asks UN General Assembly to protect Gaza children

The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) urged the UN General Assembly to contemplate what Israel’s devastating war means for the future of children from Gaza.

Philippe Lazzarini noted there are nearly 625,000 “deeply traumatised girls and boys” out of school and “living in the rubble in Gaza”.

“We cannot afford to lose an entire generation and sow the seeds for future hatred and extremism … It is our collective responsibility and moral imperative to do everything possible to protect children’s rights and future,” said Lazzarini.

https://x.com/UNLazzarini/status/1838611346117792141

Israeli attacks on Gaza, Lebanon dominate first day of UNGA

What we’ve seen so far is something very clear and that’s real urgency in all of the speeches that we have heard.

Urgency about the issues that are facing the world right now, particularly the urgency of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and Israel’s continued bombardment of the Gaza Strip. But now also something that perhaps a week ago world leaders weren’t expecting, but they are forced to talk about now. And that’s Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.

In all of the speeches, we have heard repeated calls for de-escalation and really calling out Israel in many cases by many world leaders to do their part to stop this conflict.

Biden ‘stuck in the Cold War’: Al Jazeera political analyst

Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst, has called US President Joe Biden’s speech at the UN General Assembly “a missed opportunity”.

“The US president laid out the vision for the way to move forward, but he seems to be stuck in the Cold War mindset, speaking again and inciting against Russia like it was the Soviet Union, and against China as if it was the future Soviet Union,” he said.

Citing Biden’s call for the world to come together, Bishara noted that it was the US that has been isolated at the UN Security Council and the General Assembly “when it came to questions of Palestine, Lebanon and other important questions in the Middle East”.

Bishara also referred to how US actions have been fuelling Israel’s war on Gaza and other places in the region.

“What’s important to underline is how much they are helping the escalation towards war, they continue to support Israel militarily unconditionally,” he said.

“And not only that, they keep sending their armadas to the eastern Mediterranean in order to protect Israel as it carries its war crimes in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and elsewhere,” Bishara said, adding that the US “is blindly following in the footsteps” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is being sought after by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

“Netanyahu is leading the area to the brink, to a disaster, and the US is protecting him, shielding him, and arming him to carry his war crimes,” Bishara said.

Here's an idea, stop bombing everyone around you.