Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark and urgent address at the opening of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, warning that “the horrors in Gaza continue and the scale of killing has crossed all boundaries.” His remarks set the tone for a tense and consequential gathering of world leaders as global conflicts, from the Middle East to Ukraine and Sudan, dominate the international agenda.
Guterres reiterated that the only viable path to lasting peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies in the two-state solution. While firmly condemning the October 7 attacks, he emphasized that “nothing justifies the brutal attacks of October 7, and nothing justifies the collective punishment of the people of Gaza.” He called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, alongside the release of all hostages.
In his sweeping speech, the Secretary-General painted a grim picture of a world where the foundational pillars of peace are collapsing under the weight of impunity and disregard for international law. “Conflicts are intensifying,” he said, “and some states are abandoning the very principles that the United Nations was built upon.”
Turning to Sudan, Guterres highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis and ongoing violence, warning that civilians are facing massacres amid a conflict with no viable military solution. He also reiterated the UN’s call for peace in Ukraine, stressing the urgent need for diplomatic solutions to end the ongoing war.
Security has been dramatically heightened across New York City as world leaders, diplomats, and global officials gather for what is one of the most critical General Assembly sessions in recent memory. The event is hosting around 200 heads of state and government, hundreds of ministers, and thousands of diplomats, journalists, and civil society representatives from across the globe.
Among today’s key speakers are U.S. President Donald Trump, marking his first address to the UNGA since returning to office in January, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
President Trump is expected to take the podium with what White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt described as a “clear and constructive vision for the world.” She added that the president would address recent decisions by several Western nations to officially recognize the State of Palestine. According to Leavitt, Trump views such recognition as a “reward to Hamas” and will tell the assembly that “symbolic gestures are no substitute for meaningful action.”
The controversial stance comes a day after France and several other countries formally recognized Palestine from the UN platform, in what many are calling a historic and symbolic move aimed at increasing pressure on Israel to end its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
As the world watches closely, the 80th General Assembly session unfolds at a moment of deep global polarization, with multiple crises demanding urgent international attention and few signs of consensus in sight.
