A Unified Call for Peace
On the opening day of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, heads of state and government spoke with one voice: it’s time to end the cycle of violence in Gaza and put a two-state solution back on track. With the Gaza Strip approaching two years of warfare, global leaders underscored the urgent need for ceasefire, humanitarian access and a durable path to peace.
Echoes from the UN Podium
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres set the tone, warning that “in Gaza, the horrors are approaching a third monstrous year,” a scale of suffering he called unparalleled in his tenure. He urged full implementation of International Court of Justice measures, the immediate release of hostages and unfettered humanitarian aid, stressing that “we must not relent in the only viable answer to sustainable Middle East peace: a two-state solution.”
Voices from Rio to Jakarta
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned recent terror attacks while lamenting that “international humanitarian law and the myth of Western exceptionalism were buried under the rubble.” He argued that the survival of the Palestinian people hinges on statehood and called for renewed global engagement.
From Southeast Asia, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reiterated Jakarta’s full backing for two independent, secure and peaceful states. He offered to deploy 20,000 peacekeepers or more to Gaza and highlighted Indonesia’s recent rice exports to nations in crisis, including Palestine.
Regional Perspectives
King Abdullah II of Jordan reminded delegates that “security will only come when Palestine and Israel co-exist side by side,” envisioning an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital alongside a secure Israel living in peace with its neighbors.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev affirmed his country’s support for UN-led reconciliation efforts, while Uzbekistan’s Shavkat Mirziyoyev condemned the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to political negotiations.
Looking Ahead
As world leaders draw a clear line in favor of a two-state framework, the spotlight now shifts to diplomatic follow-through. With multiple UN resolutions on the books and growing popular support across G20 nations, the task ahead is to translate words into action—seizing the moment to shift from tragedy to a lasting peace that honours the aspirations of both Palestinians and Israelis.
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World leaders urge two-state solution at UN General Assembly
cgtn.com
