He noted that while the world has seen many conflicts over the years, “there has never been a time of greater peril than this.”
Even the UN is under attack, both literally and figuratively, with its sky-blue flag “powerless” to protect civilians from Israeli military bombardment, he stated, adding that its aid workers have been disparaged and targeted, and the opinions and rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) disregarded.
“It is no surprise that both inside and outside this Hall, trust in the UN’s cornerstone principles and ideals is crumbling,” he said.
This, he argued, is because many perceive that some nations operate above international law, global justice is swayed by power and human rights are selectively applied.
King Abdullah II urged world leaders to reflect on the state of the world, asking: if nations are not united in their commitment to equal rights, dignity, and justice for all, what kind of world are they creating?
While reiterating his country’s condemnation of the 7 October 2023 attack on Israeli civilians, he said that the “unprecedented scale of terror unleashed on Gaza since that day is beyond any justification”.
“This Israeli government has killed more children, more journalists, more aid workers, and more medical personnel than any other war in recent memory,” he said, noting also attacks in the West Bank and violations of the historical and legal status quo of Holy Sites in Jerusalem.
“During this time, the Israeli government has been allowed to cross one red line after another,” he said. “The world is watching, and history will judge us by the courage we show. And it’s not just the future that will hold us accountable, so will the people of the here and now.”
He emphasized that it is the moral duty of the international community to establish a protection mechanism for Palestinians in the occupied territories, who have endured over 57 years of occupation and oppression.
Nearly a year into the conflict, he stressed that while the world has failed politically, humanity must not fail the people of Gaza.
Recalling his father’s address to the fifteenth session of the General Assembly, he expressed the deep hope that world leaders will have the courage to act decisively and with urgency, as the crisis and their conscience demand.
“My father was a man who fought for peace to the very end. And, like him, I refuse to leave my children, or your children, a future we have given up on.”
