UNITED NATIONS — The war in Gaza dominated speeches at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, with several Middle Eastern leaders delivering blistering condemnations of Israel’s military campaign, while U.S. President Donald Trump focused his remarks on the immediate release of hostages.
The stark contrast in rhetoric highlighted the deep international divides over the conflict.
In his address, President Trump called for an immediate ceasefire but insisted that “those who want peace should be united with one message: Release the hostages now.” He claimed that his administration has been “deeply engaged” in efforts to secure a ceasefire.
However, the president also took a firm stance against a growing movement among Western allies to recognize a Palestinian state. He argued that doing so would be a “reward to Hamas for its horrible atrocities” on October 7 and would “encourage continued conflict.”
“We’ve got to get the hostages back,” Trump said. “We want all 20 back. We don’t want two and four,” a reference to previous, smaller-scale prisoner swaps.
While Trump focused on a hostage-first approach, leaders from across the Middle East used their speeches to condemn Israel’s actions as a humanitarian catastrophe and a direct threat to regional stability.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan showed the General Assembly photos of hungry women and malnourished children in Gaza. He called the situation a “low point for humanity” and said that “everyone who is keeping silent is an accomplice to this barbarity.” He also thanked countries that have recognized a Palestinian state and urged others to follow suit.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II warned that Israel’s current actions, coupled with “provocative calls for a ‘Greater Israel’,” could lead to further instability and violate the territorial integrity of its neighbors. He stressed that a “two-State solution” with a viable Palestinian state is the only path to peace. “The international community must stop entertaining the illusion that this Government is a willing partner for peace,” he said.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani accused Israel of a recent strike in Doha that he said was intended to sabotage ongoing hostage-release negotiations. He called the attack a “treacherous attack” that “undermines any diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the genocide against the people in Gaza.”
The collective message from these leaders underscored a unified regional perspective that stands in stark contrast to the U.S. position and called on the international community to take more decisive action against Israel.
