New york: US President Donald J. Trump has criticized the unilateral recognition efforts of the State of Palestine by certain UN member countries, emphasizing the urgent need for the release of hostages from the Gaza Strip. In his inaugural address to the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Trump called for unity among those who support peace in the Middle East.
According to Kuwait News Agency, President Trump addressed the assembly on Tuesday, urging that the recognition of Palestine at this time would effectively reward Hamas for its actions, particularly in light of the events on October 7. He stressed that rewarding such behavior would encourage continued conflict rather than resolve it. Trump implored the international community to stand together with a single message: the immediate release of the captives.
In his speech, Trump reiterated the importance of stopping the war in Gaza and initiating peace negotiations. He expressed a strong resolve to bring back all hostages, referencing past successes in retrieving captives with the help of US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Trump acknowledged the difficulty in securing the release of the remaining hostages but emphasized the need for their swift return, along with the bodies of those who have perished.
The 80th session of the General Assembly, held under the theme "Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights," saw participation from heads of state and government from 180 UN member countries.