Trump to Address World Leaders at United Nations Amid Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza
NEW YORK – Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to address world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly today, as international pressure mounts for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The visit comes as the U.S. continues to shield Israel from United Nations resolutions calling for a halt to fighting in Gaza, and follows recent statements from Palestinian officials urging the U.S. to pursue a two-state solution.
The senior Palestinian diplomat in the U.K., Ambassador husam Zomlot, told CBS News on Tuesday that President Trump must live up to his vow to bring peace to the Middle East. “We hope the U.S. will join this international momentum, and will be part of this real international quest, for an end to the genocide,” Zomlot said at the Palestinian mission in London. “Whether the president or the Trump management or any administration, the long-standing U.S. policy is a two-state solution on the 1967 borders. If not now, when? If not during the middle of a genocide, the middle of the most atrocious attack against the Palestinian people…when? the U.S. must be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”
Just last week, the U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, marking the sixth time since Hamas-led terrorists attacked Israel nearly two years ago, sparking the ongoing war. Washington has vetoed dozens of U.N. resolutions linked to Palestinian sovereignty or statehood over decades.
Zomlot criticized the U.S. vetoes, stating, “It doesn’t help. It’s very counterproductive and it plays into the hands of (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, (Finance Minister Bezalel) Smotrich, (National Security Minister) Itamar Ben-Gvir and the fanatics in the Israeli government.”
Zomlot recalled past conversations with Trump, saying, “I’ve had the chance to meet President Trump several times, and he always, always repeated that he is a man of peace. He wants to be the one who makes peace. He wants to be the one to finally reach a peace agreement in Palestine.” He added, ”I want him to stick to that promise. I think doing that requires an immediate, immediate intervention to stop the genocide. It’s under his watch.”
The Israeli government has rejected accusations, including from a united Nations-commissioned panel, that its military operations in Gaza amount to genocide against the Palestinians. Israel maintains it has no intent to commit genocide and complies with international law.
