At the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, the spotlight turned to the Israel–Palestine conflict as world leaders grappled with calls for an end to the fighting in Gaza. U.S. President Donald Trump told delegates on Sept. 26 that a deal to halt hostilities with Hamas was “very close,” injecting a note of cautious optimism into a session marked by deep divisions.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a forceful address that prompted a chorus of protest from some member states: delegates walked out before he even began, underscoring the fraught politics surrounding the crisis. His speech defended Israel’s right to self-defense and called for international unity against terrorism, but it also highlighted the rifts within the UN on how to move forward.
Owen Fairclough, reporting from New York, notes that this chapter of the General Assembly exposes both the limits and possibilities of multilateral diplomacy. While Trump’s announcement raised hopes for an imminent ceasefire, Netanyahu’s polarizing remarks revealed the challenge of forging consensus among the assembly’s nearly 200 members.
As the session continues, the world will watch whether behind-the-scenes negotiations can bridge gaps that play out so dramatically on the Assembly floor—and whether a lasting pause in the Gaza conflict can pave the way for broader peace efforts.
Reference(s):
Israel – Palestine issues take center stage at UN General Assembly
cgtn.com
