Leaders at UNGA gravely concerned with Middle East violence, slam Israel for 'genocide'

CRITICISM

In his first address to the General Assembly, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called Israel out on its operations in Gaza and Lebanon. "Israel's state terrorism in Lebanon cannot go unanswered," he said. "Responsibility for all consequences will be borne by those governments who have thwarted all global efforts to end this horrific catastrophe."

Criticizing Israel for what he called "genocide in Gaza," the president said that "it is imperative that the international community should immediately ... secure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and bring an end to the desperate barbarism of Israel in Lebanon, before it engulfs the region and the world."

"We seek peace for all and have no intention of conflict with any country ... Iran opposes war and emphasizes the need for an immediate cessation of military conflict in Ukraine," Pezeshkian said.

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu said that the ongoing massacre -- the genocide -- by Israel in Gaza, is a travesty of justice and the international system, over the repeated destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, humanitarian infrastructure, as well as the repeated cycles of killings of men, women, children, babies.

"The world is struggling to process the deaths of so many civilians in Gaza and now Israeli raids in Lebanon claiming hundreds more civilians lives there. Their cries haunt anyone with humanity. Their tears, bitter on our conscience," said the president, adding that Israel is even targeting and killing journalists, which are brutal attempts to prevent the world from knowing about the crimes taking place.

"Israel must be held accountable for these acts of terrorism, for these violations of international law and UN resolutions," he insisted. "We must accept a sovereign and independent Palestinian State on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital... We welcome the decision to seat our brothers and sisters from Palestine with us here in the General Assembly, for the first time, instead of behind us. Now, we must ensure that Palestine becomes a full member of the UN."