Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, addressed assembled world leaders with a grim assessment of today’s global state. At the UN General Assembly on September 23, he emphasized that human suffering is escalating as pillars of peace weaken under abuse and neglect.
He lamented the collective punishment inflicted on Palestinians and remarked on the unprecedented scale of death in Gaza during recent conflicts. Stressing legal protections for civilians, Guterres referenced South Africa’s case to the International Court of Justice and appealed for global commitment to human rights.
Leaders from countries including France, Canada, and the UK voiced support for Palestinian recognition while urging diplomatic solutions. The assembly grappled with ongoing wars and humanitarian crises in a vexed international climate.
