Gaza and Palestinian Statehood to Dominate This Year’s UN General Assembly

The ongoing crisis in Gaza and the future of a Palestinian state are expected to take center stage at this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where more than 140 world leaders are scheduled to attend. However, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not be present due to the United States' denial of his visa application, according to Arab News, citing AFP.

The denial of President Abbas’ visa comes amid escalating global attention on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which has persisted for nearly two years following Israel’s retaliatory attacks after the unprecedented Hamas assault on October 7, 2023.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated severely, with the enclave facing acute shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. As a result, this year’s UNGA will place particular emphasis on the future of Gaza and the prospects of a two-state solution.

Starting Monday, Saudi Arabia and France will jointly launch discussions aimed at reviving the two-state solution — a peaceful coexistence between Israel and a sovereign Palestinian state side by side.

Last week, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution in favor of recognizing the State of Palestine, notably excluding Hamas from the equation. Following the vote, countries such as France are expected to formally recognize Palestine as a state.

Richard Gowan, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the move “symbolic,” but emphasized that it could carry real weight if those nations apply diplomatic pressure on Israel. “Recognition alone won’t change realities on the ground, but if it's backed by concrete steps, it could have genuine impact,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address the General Assembly during the session. He has firmly stated that no Palestinian state will be formed during his tenure. The U.S., a close ally of Israel, has opposed recognizing Palestine as a state and was responsible for rejecting the Palestinian delegation’s visa applications.

Efforts are underway to allow President Abbas to address the Assembly via video link. A vote on this proposal is scheduled for Friday in the General Assembly.

The UN marks its 80th anniversary amid growing criticism of its effectiveness, especially as it grapples with conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and the growing threat of climate change. Humanitarian funding shortfalls, partly driven by U.S. foreign aid cuts under former President Donald Trump, have worsened the crisis for UN agencies operating in conflict zones.

Federico Borello, Acting Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, warned that the multilateral system is facing an existential crisis. “When powerful countries — including permanent members of the Security Council — violate international humanitarian law or enable others to do so, the rules themselves begin to erode,” he said.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged global leaders to take action on critical issues such as the war in Gaza, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the conflict in Sudan, and climate change. “People are looking for action and answers — meaningful action that matches the urgency of the global challenges we face,” Guterres said.