26 September 2025
Eightieth Session,
10th & 11th Meetings (AM & PM)
The war in Gaza remained in sharp focus on the fourth day of the General Assembly’s annual high-level debate in a week that began with a conference for Palestinian statehood amid growing support among Member States for a sovereign State of Palestine.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, was first to take the podium, met by a walkout of several delegations and an audibly mixed reception among those who remained. “The curse of Iran’s terror axis” threatened global peace and stability in the Middle East, as well as “the very existence of my country, Israel”, he said.
Describing his country’s strikes against Iran’s forces across the Middle East since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks and which targeted Iran’s atomic weapons and ballistic missile programmes, he stressed that Iran must not be allowed to rebuild its military nuclear capacities and that Security Council sanctions on that country “must be snapped back”.
He demanded Hamas’ leaders to free the hostages who remain in Gaza now. “Let my people go,” he said, stressing that his words are being transmitted live to the cell phones of Gazans, and warning that if they do not, “Israel will hunt you down.” “If Hamas agrees to our demands, the war could end right now.” Gaza would be demilitarized; Israel would retain overriding security control and a peaceful civilian authority would be established by Gazans and others committed to peace with Israel.
Sharp Rebuke of ‘Genocidal’ Actions
Other leaders, however, including Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, called out the genocidal onslaught in Gaza. Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland, stressed that no crime, however heinous, can justify genocide. “The continuation of this course of action will ultimately harm Israel’s own interests, leading to an erosion of international support,” warned Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece.
“Surely, the hottest part of hell is reserved for these perpetrators of genocide and those who are complicit in it,” said Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He called for the “tragedy in Palestine” to stop — an appeal that was echoed throughout the debate.
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Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel, holding up a poster titled “The Curse”, said it shows “the curse of Iran’s terror axis”. “This axis threatened the peace of the entire world, the stability of our region and the very existence of my country, Israel,” he underscored. Iran was developing massive nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, he said, meant not only to destroy Israel but to threaten the United States and “blackmail nations everywhere”. Describing attacks by Iran’s forces against Israel launched from Gaza on 7 October 2023, and those that followed from Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, he said that over the past year, his country has “hammered the Houthis […], crushed the bulk of Hamas’ terror machine, crippled Hizbullah, destroyed Assad’s armaments in Syria and deterred Iran’s Shi’ite militias in Iraq”. Most importantly, Israel has devastated Iran’s atomic weapons and ballistic missile programmes, he said.
Recalling “Israel’s 12-day war in Iran”, he thanked “President [Donald J.] Trump for his bold and decisive action” with Israel to deliver on “the promise of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons”. “We removed an existential threat to Israel and a mortal threat to the civilized world,” he declared. “We must not allow Iran to rebuild its military nuclear capacities,” he said, adding: “Tomorrow, UN Security Council sanctions on Iran must be snapped back.” However, the final remnants of Hamas remain in Gaza City, and they vow to repeat the atrocities of 7 October 2023. He lamented that “much of the world no longer remembers 7 October [2023]”, naming the 20 living Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza. Addressing them, he said: “We have not forgotten you. The people of Israel are with you. We will not rest; we will not falter until we bring all of you home.”
Noting that his “words are also being streamed live to the cell phones of Gazans”, he addressed Hamas’ leaders, declaring: “Lay down your arms. Let my people go. Free the hostages — all of them, the whole 48. Free the hostages now!” He warned: “If you do, you will live. If you don’t, Israel will hunt you down.” He underscored that “if Hamas agrees to our demands, the war could end right now”. Gaza would be demilitarized, Israel would retain overriding security control and a peaceful civilian authority would be established by Gazans and others committed to peace with Israel.
Stressing that “our enemies are your enemies”, he voiced appreciation for President Trump’s administration, which is “forcefully fighting the scourge of antisemitism”. However, others “reward the worst antisemites on Earth”, he said, recalling that this week the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and others unconditionally recognized a Palestinian State. Peace is possible between Israel and countries in the region, he said, encouraging their cooperation with Israel, which would bring them benefits in medicine, science, defence and other fields. “In the coming years, the Middle East will look dramatically different,” he said, voicing hope that “brave peacemakers” will today replace those who waged war in Israel and who will then be gone.
Turning to the plight of the Palestinian people, he said Israel’s genocidal onslaught has unleashed unspeakable terror upon women and children, stressing that the smallest coffins are the heaviest to carry. “For I too carried the tiny coffin of a seven-year-old, Irtiza Abbas, during the recent confrontation with India,” he added, urging the world not to fail any child anywhere in the world. Israel’s attack on Doha and its continued violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of numerous countries reflects its rogue behavior, he noted.
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China: Li Qiang, Premier
“All countries belong to the same global village and rely on each other for security,” he said, adding that the legitimate security concerns of all countries must be respected, and differences settled peacefully through dialogue. China is the biggest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget and, of the permanent Council Members, the largest provider of peacekeepers. It will continue to promote peace talks on Ukraine and the Palestine-Israel conflict.
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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister
On Gaza and the West Bank, he said: “Surely, the hottest part of hell is reserved for these perpetrators of genocide and those who are complicit in it,” calling for the “tragedy in Palestine” to stop.
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Luxembourg: Luc Frieden, Prime Minister
But the Organization’s success “depends on all of us”, he underscored. He urged Member States to adopt this spirit of compromise and reconciliation, as they work for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire and full humanitarian access in Gaza, as well as for the release of all hostages. That spirit is also needed to realize the two-State solution, he said, recalling his country’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine this week. Luxembourg will be a reliable partner in these efforts, including in work to ensure equal rights, educate all children, eradicate hunger and disease, protect cultural heritage and create a United Nations that is fit for purpose.
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Ireland: Micheál Martin, Taoiseach
Turning to Gaza, “a catastrophe of the most monumental and consequential kind”, he acknowledged those working in the most unimaginably difficult circumstances to preserve and sustain life and to treat the injured. “At the heart of this vital effort have been UN agencies and workers, most especially UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East],” he said. Recalling babies starving to death while aid rots at the border, as well as the deliberate targeting and destruction of schools, hospitals, mosques, cultural institutions and the killing of doctors, aid workers and journalists, he stated: “We are all witnesses to the immense wrath of one of the world’s most modern and best-equipped armies brought to bear on a trapped and defenceless civilian population.” Those responsible for the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel — which was a monstrous war crime — must be held to account, he said, adding that Hamas, not the Palestinian people, were responsible but no crime, however heinous, can justify genocide.
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Malta: Robert Abela, Prime Minister
“So too must there be an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza,” he continued, calling for the immediate release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into the Strip. Earlier this week, Malta recognized the State of Palestine, he said, underscoring that a “two-state solution — no — isn’t a reward for Hamas; it is the only way […] to finally banish the evil of Hamas”.
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Greece: Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister
Citing 7 October 2023, he said Greece has advocated for Israel’s right to defend itself against a terrorist organization that rejects Israel’s right to exist, but he added that no military can justify the death of thousands of children and the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people. “The continuation of this course of action will ultimately harm Israel’s own interests, leading to an erosion of international support,” he stressed.
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Jamaica: Andrew Holness, Prime Minister
Jamaica condemns the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel and deeply regrets the devastating humanitarian consequences of the counter-offensive in the Palestinian territories. There must be a just and peaceful resolution through diplomacy and dialogue. He supports the call for a ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages.
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Cabo Verde: José Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister
On threats to global peace and security, he condemned coups d’état, terrorism, genocide and assaults on the territorial integrity of countries – voicing support for a just, durable peace for the resolution of the war in Ukraine. He further called for the two-State solution, with “Israel and Palestine living side by side, in peace and security”.
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Zimbabwe: Amon Murwira, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade
“Zimbabwe was born out of a protracted liberation struggle,” he added — hence its solidarity with the people of Palestine and Western Sahara.
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New Zealand: Winston Peters, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Racing and Minister for Rail
On the war in Gaza — “the edge of a horrible abyss” — while New Zealand strongly condemns the 7 October 2023 attacks and believes Hamas has no place in a future Palestinian State, Israel’s response has been “grossly disproportionate”. And recognizing a Palestinian State is, for his country, a matter “uniquely complicated given it is embedded in a seemingly intractable, never-ending conflict situation”, he said.
Noting that Palestinian statehood recognition will at present be “open to political manipulation by both Hamas and Israel”, he pointed out his country’s dilemma in that regard: the former will portray such recognition as victory while the latter will view it as a reward. “We are not ready to make that gesture,” he said, adding: “Rather, the New Zealand Government believes that it has one opportunity to recognize Palestinian statehood, and it would make better sense to do so when conditions offer greater prospects for peace and negotiation than at present.”
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Bahrain: Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister for Foreign Affairs
He outlined several pillars for a vision of global peace, coexistence and prosperity aligned with the principles of the UN Charter and international law, the first being a commitment to peaceful solutions to conflicts, especially in the Middle East.
This commitment includes a call for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the protection of civilians, the release of hostages and detainees, advancing the sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and other actions. “My country warns of the repercussions of the war in Gaza on regional stability and global interests,” he said, condemning the Israeli attack on Qatar. He also called for negotiations and diplomatic solutions as the path to resolving the Palestinian issue in line with international law and the Charter. He urged the international community to respond to the initiative of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa endorsed by the thirty-third Arab Summit, the “Bahrain Summit”, which called for an international peace conference in the Middle East.
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Venezuela: Yvan Gil Pinto, Minister of the People’s Power for Foreign Affairs
He also expressed solidarity with the heroic people of Palestine, condemned the attacks on Iran, and demanded the lifting of the blockade on Cuba and the removal of unilateral coercive measures against Belarus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Iran and Zimbabwe.
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Document Type: Meeting coverage
Document Sources: General Assembly
Country: Bahrain, Cape Verde, China, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Pakistan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zimbabwe
Subject: Armed conflict, Ceasefire, Gaza Strip, Genocide, Hostages, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Palestine question, Recognition of Palestine, Statehood-related, Two State solution
Publication Date: 26/09/2025
URL source: https://press.un.org/en/2025/ga12712.doc.htm