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Global reactions to Palestinian state recognition

Global reactions to Palestinian state recognition
By Tamila Varshalomidze, Tim Hume, Virginia Pietromarchi and Federica Marsi
Published On 23 Sep 2025

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23 Sep 2025 - 23:59
 (23:59 GMT)

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Read about Trump’s speech at the UN General Assembly, in which he said that the war in Gaza must stop “immediately”.

Find out more about the UN’s new report that says Israeli forces have “systematically destroyed” civil life across Gaza, while demonstrating a “clear intent” to forcibly remove Palestinians from the occupied West Bank, here.

Watch Qatar’s emir accuse Israel of genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people in his speech at the UN.

23 Sep 2025 - 23:50
 (23:50 GMT)

Here’s what happened today

We will be closing this live page shortly. But before we do, here’s a recap of the day’s major developments:

  • Israeli attacks continued across Gaza, with at least 36 Palestinians killed.
  • World leaders have attended the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting, where Israel’s war on Gaza has taken centre stage.
  • Trump held a meeting with Arab leaders on the sidelines of the UNGA, saying it is of the utmost importance to negotiate the release of captives held in Gaza.
  • As Israel continues its military assault on Gaza City, the UN’s OHCHR has warned that Israeli actions are “inflicting terror on the Palestinian population of Gaza City and forcing tens of thousands to flee”.
  • Israel has issued another threat against the Gaza Sumud Flotilla, saying it will “take the necessary measures to prevent its entry into the combat zone and to stop any violation of a lawful naval blockade”.
  • Israeli authorities have indefinitely closed the King Hussein Bridge, also known as the Allenby Bridge, blocking the only gateway between the occupied West Bank and Jordan.
23 Sep 2025 - 23:30
 (23:30 GMT)

UN inquiry finds Israel seeking permanent control in Gaza

A newly released UN report found that the Israeli government has shown a clear intent to establish permanent control over Gaza and ensure a Jewish majority in the occupied West Bank.

The United Nations Commission of Inquiry detailed the Israeli authorities’ extensive, systematic demolition of civilian infrastructure in Gaza’s corridors and buffer zone, which resulted in Israel expanding control to 75 percent of Gaza by July this year.

23 Sep 2025 - 23:15
 (23:15 GMT)

Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,723 healthcare workers in Gaza

Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,723 healthcare workers in Gaza since October 2023, according to Munir al-Bursh, the director general of Gaza’s Health Ministry.

He told Al Jazeera that Israeli forces have attacked 38 hospitals since the start of the war, adding that the St John Eye Hospital, the al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital and the Sheikh Hamad Hospital in Gaza City are now out of service.

He warned that Israel’s blockade on aid entering the Strip, including fuel, will cause a “major disaster”, with hospitals at risk of shutting down in 48 hours if no petrol is allowed in.

23 Sep 2025 - 23:00
 (23:00 GMT)

UN experts call for suspension of Israel from international football

UN experts have called on football’s world governing body FIFA and the European body UEFA to suspend Israel from international football in response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council concluded that “sports must reject the perception that it is business as usual”.

“Sporting bodies must not turn a blind eye to grave human rights violations, especially when their platforms are used to normalise injustices,” they said.

They cited the International Court of Justice’s ruling on January 26, 2024, which said that all countries have an obligation to prevent and punish genocide.

23 Sep 2025 - 22:45
 (22:45 GMT)

Greta Thunberg says ‘real action’ must follow recognition of Palestinian state

Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg has called on states that recognised Palestinian statehood to back up their “symbolic gestures” with more pressure on Israel to end its offensive on Gaza.

“Of course, it’s good that the Palestinian cause is more on the agenda, but these symbolic gestures will lead nowhere unless they are accompanied with real action,” Thunberg told the Reuters news agency via video conference while onboard a vessel that is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

She added that states have a legal duty to do everything in their power to stop what a United Nations Commission of Inquiry and human rights groups have concluded is a “genocide” unfolding in Gaza.

23 Sep 2025 - 22:40
 (22:40 GMT)
Houthi

Loud explosions reported near Gaza aid flotilla

Our reporter on board one of the vessels that is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla is reporting an explosion near the fleet, while drones fly overhead.

The Marine VHF radios that the ships use are also jammed, our reporter said.

No injuries have been reported so far.

23 Sep 2025 - 22:30
 (22:30 GMT)

WATCH: Palestinian statehood ‘an indisputable right, not a reward’

23 Sep 2025 - 22:15
 (22:15 GMT)

Qatar’s spokesperson says Israel’s lack of accountability must end

Israel’s attack on Hamas’s leadership in Doha earlier this month “will not go unanswered”, Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, told Al Jazeera at the UN headquarters.

“To say that we are angry is an understatement,” al-Ansari said. “We are working with our partners around the world to make it very clear that this attack on our sovereignty will not go unanswered and that [Israel’s] lack of accountability … must end.”

The attack on a Hamas delegation meeting in Doha “is a red line among hundreds of red lines that Netanyahu has already crossed, but it goes beyond everything he has done so far”.

“It is now time for the whole world to stand in solidarity against his actions and bring him back into the fold.”

[UGC vía AP]
23 Sep 2025 - 22:00
 (22:00 GMT)
Analysis

Trump criticises UN inaction while blocking its resolutions

In his speech to the UNGA, Trump “indulged in narcissistic behaviour while lecturing the world”, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara said, adding that the US president criticised the UN’s inaction on current conflicts, although the US has vetoed most draft resolutions meant to lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Bishara said that 57 Muslim-majority countries could use their leverage to bring about a change in US foreign policy when it comes to its unconditional backing of Israel.

“If they are not capable of nudging and convincing the US to end the war in Gaza, I don’t know what will,” he said.

23 Sep 2025 - 21:56
 (21:56 GMT)

Ending genocide in Gaza utmost priority: Palestinian envoy to UN

Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour urged the UN Security Council to take “resolute action” to end the war in Gaza.

“Ending the genocide in Gaza is the utmost priority. One that can suffer no delay; one that requires resolute action,” Mansour said during a council session on the Middle East.

He said the Gaza Strip must be reunified with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, and stressed that Palestinians remain committed to peace “in words and deeds”.

“Nothing justifies delaying such a ceasefire that is the only way to stop the bloodshed, release the hostages and prisoners and human remains, and allow unhindered humanitarian access,” he said.

23 Sep 2025 - 21:45
 (21:45 GMT)

UN human rights office says Israel ‘inflicting terror’ on people of Gaza City

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has warned that Israel’s military actions are “inflicting terror on the Palestinian population of Gaza City and forcing tens of thousands to flee”.

In a statement, the OHCHR cited a sharp increase in the number of civilians killed in Gaza City and warned that the destruction of people’s homes makes it likely that their displacement would be permanent.

The office said its partners estimated that as of Monday, more than 20,500 people had been displaced from the northern part of Gaza to the south, raising the overall number since mid-August to more than 321,200.

23 Sep 2025 - 21:30
 (21:30 GMT)

Child injured in Israeli army raid near Hebron

A child has been injured in Idhna, west of Hebron, as the Israeli military continues to conduct raids across the occupied West Bank.

The Wafa news agency reported that the child suffered a hand injury after being hit by a tear gas canister.

It added that the army fired live ammunition as well as tear gas at the entrance of the town.

23 Sep 2025 - 21:25
 (21:25 GMT)

Trump’s meeting with Muslim leaders ‘very fruitful’: Erdogan

Turkiye’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that a meeting on Gaza between Trump and leaders of Muslim countries was “very fruitful”.

Speaking to reporters in New York after the meeting, Erdogan said a joint declaration from the meeting would be published and that he was “pleased” with the outcomes.

23 Sep 2025 - 21:15
 (21:15 GMT)

What are Arab leaders hoping to achieve by meeting Trump?

By James Bays

Reporting from the United Nations

They want to get into Trump’s ear. They want to change his mind on Gaza, and that’s why this meeting is taking place.

Clearly, the Trump administration has its plans that it wants to outline to this Arab and Islamic group. But I think this group will say to Trump, “Look at the killing. Look at the scale of the death toll. Look at the fact there is famine.”

There is a feeling certainly among diplomats here at the UN that sometimes in the White House, President Trump is only getting one side of the story.

And by coming here to the UN, they’re hoping they can persuade him to make a change in policy. Trump, in his speech at the General Assembly, said the ceasefire is something he needed to get to soon.

Maybe this is the day because we’ve already seen such a big change in policy on Ukraine. Clearly, Trump is listening to different and new ideas today.

23 Sep 2025 - 21:00
 (21:00 GMT)

Israeli forces fire live bullets, sound bombs in raids near Ramallah

Israeli forces have raided el-Bireh and Deir Ibzi, west of Ramallah, the Palestinian Wafa news agency has reported.

The military stormed the centre of el-Bireh and fired live bullets, sound bombs and tear gas. No injuries were reported.

The agency also reported that Israeli forces stormed Deir Ibzi’ village, west of Ramallah.

23 Sep 2025 - 20:45
 (20:45 GMT)

Israel threatens Gaza Sumud Flotilla again

Israel has issued another threat against the Gaza Sumud Flotilla, which is aiming to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver much-needed aid to the besieged enclave.

Earlier this week, Israel’s Foreign Ministry warned the vessels from approaching Gaza’s coast, saying it should transfer the aid to Ashkelon port.

On Tuesday, the ministry issued another threat, saying, “If the flotilla continues to reject Israel’s peaceful proposal, Israel will take the necessary measures to prevent its entry into the combat zone and to stop any violation of a lawful naval blockade.”

Activists and human rights defenders ride on board a vessel taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla [AFP]
23 Sep 2025 - 20:35
 (20:35 GMT)

Trump meeting with Arab leaders to discuss Gaza

President Trump has started a meeting with Arab leaders on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly, saying it was of the utmost importance to negotiate the release of captives in Israel.

“I think we’ll be able to do it. This is the group that can do it,” Trump said as he sat with several Arab leaders.

“This is my most important meeting.”

23 Sep 2025 - 20:30
 (20:30 GMT)

We support Israel but do not agree with everything happening in Gaza: US official

US State Department spokesperson Michael Mitchell has told Al Jazeera that:

  • US and Israeli conditions for ending the war in Gaza have not changed.
  • US supports Israel, but that does not mean it agrees with everything that is happening in Gaza.
  • We want to end the war in Gaza as soon as possible, but we are not a party to the war.
  • A Palestinian state cannot be recognised as the war continues.
  • We will focus on the Middle East peace process after the war in Gaza ends.
23 Sep 2025 - 20:15
 (20:15 GMT)

Gaza has become graveyard for humanity: Pakistan FM

By Ali Harb

Mohammad Ishaq Dar has urged the international community to take concrete action to end the suffering of Palestinians, stressing that the time for words has passed.

“Gaza has become a graveyard for humanity as well as for the global conscience,” he told the Security Council.

“We call upon the Security Council and the international community to act decisively to uphold human dignity, to ensure accountability and to deliver justice.”