PALESTINE, PEACE AND THE UN: MENA LEADERS SPEAK OUT
The MED This Week newsletter provides informed insights on the most significant developments in the MENA region, bringing together unique opinions and reliable foresight on future scenarios. Today, we shed light on the MENA countries at the UNGA.
At the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, leaders from the MENA region have focused their speeches on the escalating crisis in Gaza and the unresolved Palestinian question, while also addressing issues directly affecting their countries and regional stability. The recognition of the State of Palestine by ten additional countries between 21 and 22 September – joining the 148 others (including the Holy See) that have done so since 1988 – has dominated international attention and triggered sharp reactions from Israel and the United States. Notably, these latest recognitions came from major Western powers such as France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, all long-standing allies of Israel. Others, including Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands, signaled their intention to follow suit, though under conditions such as the dismantling of Hamas and the release of hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, set to address the Assembly on Friday, has dismissed this wave of recognitions as a concession to Hamas. On the Palestinian side, President Mahmoud Abbas sent only a video message, as the delegation was denied visas to enter the United States. Abbas reiterated his condemnation of 7 October and that Hamas should not have a role in the future of Palestinian governance, but also that what Israel is doing in the Strip is a war crime and a crime against humanity. Earlier, on 22 September, Abbas had called on Hamas to lay down its arms. The United States, meanwhile, has responded by drafting a 21-point “plan for peace in the Middle East and Gaza,” discussed by President Donald Trump with Arab and Islamic representatives on 23 September and expected to be formally unveiled in the coming days. For MENA leaders, the Assembly has also provided a stage to spotlight other concerns. The arrival of Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in New York marked the end of his country’s long international isolation. On 24 September, the UN reported that one million Syrian refugees have returned since December 2024, yet Al-Sharaa used his address to denounce ongoing Israeli strikes on Syrian territory. A similar condemnation came from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who urged “the immediate cessation of Israeli aggression and the withdrawal of the occupation.” Qatar’s Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, likewise decried Israel’s 9 September bombing as a blatant violation of international law, warning that “tolerating violations of the UN Charter is tantamount to tolerating the law of the jungle.” Finally, on 24 September, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran has never pursued nuclear weapons, in a last attempt to avert the reinstatement of international sanctions expected in the coming days.
Experts from the ISPI network discuss on the issues raised by MENA countries at the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
