At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Jordan's King Abdullah II declared that the war in Gaza stands as "one of the darkest moments" in the UN's long history. His remarks underscored the urgency of addressing a conflict that continues to devastate lives and challenge the credibility of the international system.
He reminded world leaders that the UN was created 80 years ago with a promise: never again should humanity repeat the horrors of its past. Yet, Palestinians, he lamented, remain trapped in a "cruel cycle" of violence, displacement, and denial of basic human rights. For decades, the cycle has repeated with tragic consistency.
King Abdullah posed a sobering question: how much longer will the world allow this conflict to fester without a lasting solution? He called for a resolution that protects the rights of all sides and allows families to live with dignity and security.
He described Israel's ongoing occupation as the longest unresolved conflict in modern history, calling it an "illegal occupation of a helpless population" and a "flagrant violation" of international law and UN resolutions. Such inertia, he argued, fuels instability and erodes trust in the global order.
The king further warned of dangerous double standards. He criticized Israeli leaders' calls for a "Greater Israel," stressing that if such a proposal had come from an Arab state, the international community would not respond with the same indifference.
Reaffirming Jordan's position, he emphasized that a two-state solution remains the only viable foundation for peace. "Force," he warned, "is no foundation for security." Coexistence, not perpetual conflict, is the path forward.
Finally, King Abdullah praised the resilience of ordinary people and Jordan's humanitarian efforts. He urged the UN to transform global outrage into concrete action, declaring: "This UN must act until peace is a reality."
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