Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara made history Wednesday by delivering a speech at United Nations General Assembly first by any Syrian leader in nearly 60 years. During address, he expressed strong support for Palestinians, urged immediate halt to Gaza conflict, and called for two-state solution implementation.
Shara highlighted Syria’s own experiences with war and destruction, stating, “Syria stands with Gaza people. We demand immediate ceasefire.” He accused Israel of exploiting Syria’s transitional period to spark new conflicts, potentially pushing region toward brink. Shara reaffirmed commitment to 1974 agreement with Tel Aviv on peace and borders.
In related developments, Spain’s King Felipe urged end to ongoing killings in Gaza during his UN speech. He expressed sorrow over Israeli strikes damaging hospitals, schools, and shelters, calling them affront to humanity and international community. Felipe emphasized global responsibility for just, lasting regional peace through two-state resolution.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba advocated UN Security Council reform. He criticized veto powers of permanent members hindering effective action.
Ishiba proposed increasing permanent and non-permanent seats, suspending new permanent members’ veto rights for 15 years and making council more representative. He also condemned Israel’s unilateral actions blocking two-state path.
Meloni also addressed Israel’s war on Gaza, saying that while she believes “ferocity and brutality” of the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel prompted an initial legitimate response, Israel has now “exceeded that limit”.
“The Jewish state has ended up violating humanitarian norms, causing a massacre among civilians,” Meloni said.
“This choice, which Italy has repeatedly deemed unacceptable will lead us to vote in favour of some of the sanctions proposed by the European Commission against Israel,” she said.
Meloni added, however, that Italy does “not side with those who heap all the blame for what is happening in Gaza on Israel”.
“Because it was Hamas that unleashed the war,” she continued.
“It is Hamas that could end the suffering of Palestinians by immediately releasing all the hostages. It is Hamas that seems intent on thriving on the suffering of the people it claims to represent,” she said.
In its right to reply at the end of Wednesday’s UNGA session, the Iranian representative said Tehran “categorically rejects the baseless and unsubstantiated allegations” made by Albanese, and views them as “being in alignment with the Israeli regime [and a] broader strategy of promoting Iran-phobia”.
“The concept of anti-Semitism has regrettably been weaponised to silence legitimate criticism and protest against occupation. Apartheid and the ongoing crimes being committed by the Israeli regime against the Palestinian people,” Iran’s representative said.
Shara’s appearance marks pivotal moment amid Syria’s reconstruction plans post-civil war and ongoing tensions with Israel. Analysts see speech as effort to reassert Syria’s role on global stage while addressing Middle East instability.
