NEW YORK: The United Nations General Assembly is set to open its 80th session on Monday with the question of Palestine overshadowing all other issues, as a series of high-profile recognitions of Palestinian statehood by Western nations intensified diplomatic pressure on Israel.
As world leaders convene in New York to mark the UN’s 80th anniversary, the conflict in Gaza and the growing international recognition of Palestine are set to dominate discussions, underscoring the UN’s decades-old struggle to resolve one of the world’s most enduring crises.
On Monday, the United Nations will resume the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. The Conference will reaffirm international commitments to the two-State solution and seek to mobilize support for its implementation.
The debate of the 80th session will continue through Saturday, 27 September, and conclude on Monday, 29 September 2025.
This year, the theme for the general debate is “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development, and human rights”.
Outside the UN headquarters, daily protests echoed across the plaza. Demonstrators under the banner “Stop Starving Gaza” accused Israel of committing atrocities, while pro-Israel groups staged counter-rallies. Protesters from Pakistan and Kashmir demanded justice over the possible execution of Yasin Malik, while Ukrainians and victims of other wars joined in, turning the forecourt into a stage of global grievances.
Inside, the focus remained firmly on Palestine. France and Saudi Arabia co-chaired a high-level conference on the “Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.” In an unusual move, the General Assembly voted to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the gathering by video link, after Washington denied visas to him and his delegation.
On Sunday, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal formally recognized the State of Palestine, in what observers described as a historic turning point. Britain and Canada became the first G7 members to extend recognition, with France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Malta expected to follow during the week.
The announcements come amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, which Palestinian health officials say has killed more than 65,200 people since October 2023. UN agencies warn of famine, mass displacement and widespread destruction across the enclave.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accused Israel of violating international law through “settlement expansion in the West Bank” and a “sustained assault in Gaza.” Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said recognition was rooted in Canberra’s “longstanding commitment to a two-state solution” and the “legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the recognition moves, vowing to fight them at the UN. The United States also cautioned against what it called “premature recognition,” insisting Palestinian statehood should come only through direct negotiations with Israel.
