In conclusion: UN General Assembly Debate Day 3

Why this matters: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict dominated the third day of the UN General Assembly’s annual debate, as leaders warned it had implications for global food and energy security.

• Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking via videotape after his delegation was denied a visa, warned that the conflict threatened “the existence of the Palestinian people”.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and said that Israel was forced to counterattack after the Hamas-led terror attack on October 7, 2023.

Competing accounts underscore deep divisions

What it says: Israeli and Palestinian leaders express very different views of the conflict and its causes.

• Abbas described the war in Gaza as a “war of genocide” that has created an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy.
• He called for the reunification of the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank; he warned against allowing another “Nakba,” referring to the permanent mass displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
• Netanyahu accused the international press and social media of ignoring Palestinian attacks and rejected descriptions of Israeli settler violence.
• He also defended Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, arguing that it was necessary for the country’s survival.

Food and energy shocks spread

The big picture: Other delegation leaders warned that the impact of the conflict was no longer limited to Israel and Palestine.

• Comorian President Azali Assoumani said the paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz and fighting in Syria and Lebanon threatened food and energy security in countries that import most of their needs.
• Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro called for an end to attacks on neighboring countries, merchant ships and civilian infrastructure, as well as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
• “Everyone is hurting” by the resulting energy and fuel crisis, he said, urging action to reduce its impact.
• Ghanaian President John Mahama urged the international community to stop using “diplomatic euphemisms” regarding the death toll in Gaza, while at the same time condemning all acts of terrorism committed by Hamas.

Test the credibility of multilateralism

Reality check: Leaders attribute the spread of conflict to the weakening of international norms and institutions.

• Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali says the weakening of multilateralism is perhaps the most troubling crisis facing the world, but argues that diplomacy can still silence the guns.
• Gambian Vice President Muhammad Jallow said multilateralism does not require agreement on every issue, but a willingness to listen, negotiate and compromise.
• Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley warned that without a fair rules-based order, small states could “cease to exist”.
• Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi urged countries to renew confidence and strengthen a UN capable of facing today’s challenges.

Middle powers are urged to take the lead

One way forward: As major powers retreat from multilateral commitments, some speakers argued that “middle powers” ​​should play a greater role in global governance.

• Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten condemned efforts to weaken the International Criminal Court and urged intermediate countries to lead cooperation on human rights and climate action.
• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country was working with other countries on a new approach to global challenges.
• He said Australia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2029-2030 period was aimed at strengthening the voice of small and medium-sized countries.
• The broader message is clear: restoring confidence in international cooperation requires consistent principles, stronger institutions, and renewed diplomatic leadership.