A day after a divisive speech by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, the prime minister of Lebanon will address the UN General Assembly. Leaders from Pakistan and Iraq are also set to speak on the meeting's 4th day.
UNGA Day 3 comes to a close with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address having dominated headlines. Netanyahu said attacking Iran was one of his 'easiest' decisions, as he had no real choice. Many representatives walked out of the UN General Assembly ahead of Netanyahu's speech. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also spoke via video and urged nations to support the two-state solution, and sharply criticized Israel and the US.
We are resuming our coverage of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, September 25. The general debate is scheduled to begin its fourth day of the assembly at 9 a.m. New York time. Iraq, Pakistan, Lebanon and others are to speak in today's morning session, while countries such as Egypt, Mexico, Kazakhstan and Sweden will take the stand in the afternoon. Friday's debate comes after a day of speeches that was centered on Gaza, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address sparking a walkout by several delegates.
Gaza dominated the speeches today. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the assembly, denying that his country's actions in Gaza amount to genocide, an accusation leveled by several speakers on Thursday, including Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. Several delegates exited the hall as the Israeli prime minister began his speech. Protesters had also gathered outside the UN Headquarters in New York ahead of Netanyahu's address, with some being arrested. Before the session wrapped up, the representatives of Iran, Turkey and Qatar used their right of reply to lambast Netanyahu's address.
Four weeks after catastrophic flash floods ravaged Nepal, the small Himalayan country's young prime minister stood at the podium of the UN General Assembly to warn leaders about the impact of a warming world. 'I wish I could stand here today simply to speak about development, democracy, peace and the hopes of a young nation. Instead, I must speak about death and destruction of epic proportions,' said Balendra Shah as he began his address to the UNGA on Thursday. The Nepalese leader stressed that the perils of climate change transcend national borders as he made a case for greater international cooperation for protecting the Himalayas. Shah proposed the establishment of a 'Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism,' which he said would be led by Nepal, India and China. Shah noted that his country only contributes less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 'We did not create this crisis. Yet we are paying a colossal price for it,' he said. The Nepalese prime minister emphasized the principles of 'Responsibility, Reparation and Resilience' as he called for grant-based support rather than loans.
Netherlands Prime Minister Rob Jetten, addressing the General Assembly on Thursday, said the International Criminal Court, which is based in The Hague, was 'under attack.' Jetten did not name the US or President Donald Trump, who on Tuesday urged countries to leave the court. 'How can you possibly be opposed to prosecuting the very worst crimes?' Jetten asked the assembly, drawing loud applause from the delegates. 'I believe there can be only one response. To say: hands off the ICC, and all those other institutions that protect the international legal order.'
Yemen and Kuwait, both heavily impacted by the Iran war and its regional spillover, have used their General Assembly addresses to stress the importance of the freedom and safety of navigation, while condemning Iran and its proxies in the region. Abdullah Abdulkader Al Alimi-Bawzer, vice resident of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, devoted his address to highlighting recent Houthi actions and their impact on global trade. Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah stressed that freedom and safety of navigation, as well as the right of passage through the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, must be guaranteed.
Nigeria's Vice President Kashim Shettima addressed the assembly on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. Among a range of issues, he weighed in on the question of AI with an appeal for an optimistic and proactive approach. 'We refuse to surrender our technological future to paranoia,' he said. 'An invention can be destructive or beneficial, depending on the purpose it serves and the judgment of those who use it.'
Fijian President Ratu Naiqama Tawakecolati Lalabalavu addressed the chamber on behalf of one of the low-lying island nations at severe risk from climate change on Thursday. He called for a wider financial system that would better enable Fijians to help themselves, specifically regarding remittances. 'Remittances are now Fiji's third-largest source of foreign exchange,' he said. 'Your excellencies, they are not aid. They are earnings of Fijians abroad, sent home. Yet Pacific corridors remain among the most expensive in the world through which to send money.'
The Israeli prime minister said allegations of genocide in Gaza leveled at Israel by various world leaders or groups were false. 'I want to ask you a question: what genocidal regime gives a million polio vaccinations to the enemy's population? What genocidal regime enables the distribution of 2 million tons of food into Gaza? Accusing Israel of genocide is the greatest lie of the century,' he said. He also called out New York's 'antisemitic' mayor, Zohran Mamdani, as one of the people spreading this message.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his speech with a reference to his notorious General Assembly appearance in 2012. 'Ladies and gentlemen, 14 years ago I stood on this podium and I drew a red line,' he said. 'I vowed to prevent Iran's murderous dictatorship from developing atomic bombs. Nuclear weapons that could destroy the state of Israel, nuclear weapons that could threaten the whole world. That's exactly what we did.' Netanyahu said that while it was 'very hard' to devastate Iran's nuclear facilities, he said it was 'one of the easiest decisions' he'd had to make as prime minister, 'because if we hadn't done it, we'd all be dead.'
