World leaders voice frustration at Israel and the US as violence mounts in Middle East

A number of world leaders sharply condemned Israel, and by extension the United States, on Tuesday as the U.N. General Assembly held its first major session since the war in Gaza began nearly a year ago.

At least one used a Hitler comparison.

The tough language reflected global frustration over the unwillingness of the parties involved to strike a cease-fire. It also spoke to international despair over the helplessness of institutions such as the United Nations to bring about peace.

Virtually all the world leaders who took the lectern Tuesday called for an end to the fight between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as well as on the increasingly violent Israel-Lebanon front, where the Israelis are battling Hezbollah.

While some also acknowledged Hamas militants launched the war by killing some 1,200 people in Israel on Oct. 7, the general sense was that Israel has gone too far in its retaliation.

Arab and Middle Eastern leaders who have been critical of Israel were among Tuesday’s speakers, but the frustration even came from some nations that usually avoid the topic, including Latin American and African states.

The rhetoric was especially intense when directed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan compared the Israeli leader to Adolf Hitler, even suggesting other countries should unite to stop the Israelis by force if needed. Others, such as Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, called the violence a genocide against Palestinians. Terms like war crimes and settler colonialism were thrown around liberally.

“What began as a terrorist action … has become a collective punishment for the entire Palestinian people,” said Brazil President Lula da Silva, the first speaker at the General Assembly. “The right of defense has become a right of vengeance.”

Much of the anger was also directed at the United States, though the world leaders rarely directly mentioned America.

“The presidents of the countries of human destruction are laughing in these very corridors,” said Petro, aiming his ire at the global 1 percent. “When Gaza dies, humanity will die … The people of God were not the people of Israel, it would seem. It’s not the people of the USA.”

Biden, for his part, called for a two-state solution, highlighting a U.S.-backed proposal for a cease-fire and hostage exchange. He called on all parties to finalize the terms, “ease the suffering in Gaza and end this war,” he said to applause from the General Assembly floor.

The U.S. has some allies at the U.N. when it comes to Gaza. While a majority of member states have voted for resolutions that the U.S. has rejected, the U.K. has abstained from voting for those measures. Austria and the Czech Republic have joined the U.S. in voting against the resolutions.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II sharply highlighted how Israel has attacked U.N. shelters and schools in Gaza, while U.N. aid trucks have been unable to reach starving Palestinians.

“The unprecedented scale of terror unleashed on Gaza since [Oct. 7] is beyond any justification,” he said. “We will never accept the forced displacement of Palestinians, which is a war crime.”

Israel is no stranger to criticism at the United Nations. Its representatives have spent much of the past year attacking the institution as Israel and the U.S. appear increasingly isolated on the world stage.

Two resolutions calling for a suspension of the fighting passed on the General Assembly floor 121 to 14. Meanwhile, 143 member states voted for a resolution to upgrade the Palestinian delegation’s status at the U.N., urging the Security Council to approve Palestinian leaders’ request for full membership. In April, the Security Council voted 12 to 1 to recommend that it become a full member, with the U.S. casting a veto, the sole “No” vote.

At this point, Israel has become accustomed to the frequent attacks by other member states.

“It will not be the last one,” Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, told reporters Tuesday, when asked about the king of Jordan’s emotional attack. Describing Israel as “a peaceful nation,” he said the country would prefer a diplomatic solution.

The majority of member states are clearly frustrated with the increasing violence in the region, especially as it has spread to Lebanon and threatens to lead to an all-out war.

“Many people came to the United Nations hoping that the backdrop would be one of attempts to de-escalate,” Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris told reporters Tuesday. “Instead, we’re seeing, on an enormous, hourly basis, an escalation of the conflict.”