“The Catastrophe Has Been Unfolding for Decades” President of the General Assembly at the 77th Anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba

Commemoration of the 77th Anniversary of the Nakba

Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

Statement by Mr. Philémon Yang, President, United Nations General Assembly

(Read by Ms. Blanca Montejo, Deputy Chief of Staff)

423^rd meeting

15 May 2025

ECOSOC Chamber

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Salam to all.

I thank the organisers for the kind invitation to join you today.

One of the first main tasks of the United Nations was to find a just solution to the question of Palestine.

For 77 years, the unresolved conflict has been on the agenda of the General Assembly.

This is far too long.

We are seeing generation after generation live through conflict and despair.

Those who came before us believed they would see the resolution of this conflict during their lifetime and a return to peace in the Middle East.

Yet here we are, once again commemorating the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians since 1948.

We must do more.

The horrors we have witnessed in Gaza for more than 18 months are a stark reminder that we urgently need to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This is a solution that cannot be brought about through endless war and occupation.

It is a solution that requires meaningful action by the international community towards the realisation of a two-State solution, in accordance with international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and relevant United Nations resolutions.

Excellencies,

As you know, Nakba is an Arabic word that means catastrophe.

A catastrophe that has been unfolding for decades.

It is time to recognise the pain and trauma this catastrophe has brought to the Palestinian people.

It is time to recognise that the suffering of civilians on both sides will end only when Israelis and Palestinians are able to live side by side in their own sovereign, independent States, in peace, security and dignity.

As the General Assembly, we must seize every chance to help chart the path towards the two-State solution.

The High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in June – to be chaired by France and Saudi Arabia – will present a crucial opportunity to set a political horizon.

The General Assembly’s commitment to the two-State solution and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination has been firm.

The United Nations Charter is also clear: all people deserve to live free from violence and intimidation.

All deserve to fully enjoy their human rights.

This includes Palestinians and Israelis.

Together, we must uphold the Charter, General Assembly resolutions and international law.

We must end the catastrophe.

We must build a brighter future for the young generations in both Palestine and Israel.

Thank you.

* ***** *