The worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza reverberated through the chambers of the United Nations, as Secretary-General António Guterres and leaders from across the Arab world pressed for urgent international action to end the bloodshed and restore stability in the region.

Briefing the Security Council on Tuesday, Guterres described the conflict as “one of the darkest chapters of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” nearly two years after Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel killed more than 1,200 civilians, including foreign nationals, and led to over 250 hostages being taken. Israel’s subsequent military response, he said, has left Gaza in ruins.

According to UN estimates, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed and tens of thousands injured, while about 1.9 million people — nearly 90 percent of the population — have been displaced, many of them multiple times. “Violence and instability are spreading beyond Gaza, threatening to engulf the region,” the Secretary-General warned, while calling for renewed commitment to diplomacy and a two-State solution.

Qatar Condemns Israeli Strike, Warns of Regional Consequences

Taking the General Assembly floor, Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sharply criticized a recent Israeli strike in Doha that allegedly targeted a Hamas negotiating team, calling it a violation of Qatari sovereignty and “an act of state terrorism.”

He warned that such actions “undermine any diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the genocide against the people in Gaza,” and stressed the need for coordinated mediation with Egypt and the United States to secure a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian access, and the release of hostages. “The international community must uphold UN legitimacy and collective security,” Sheikh Tamim urged.

Jordan Calls Gaza ‘Darkest Moment in UN’s History’

Jordan’s King Abdullah II echoed the urgency, telling world leaders that the conflict represents “one of the darkest moments in this institution’s history.”

He said Palestinians continue to be denied their rights and dignity “yet again,” and demanded a permanent ceasefire coupled with robust humanitarian aid. “Condemnations alone are not enough. The world must act,” King Abdullah said.

Lebanon Seeks Political Track, Two-State Solution

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun underscored that the crisis “cannot be viewed in isolation,” urging a revival of political efforts anchored in international legitimacy and the two-State solution.

“It is our moral, human and political obligation to call for an immediate end to the devastation taking place in Gaza,” Aoun told the Assembly. He pointed out that 142 nations had already endorsed the New York Declaration calling for a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue.

Guterres Warns Against Missing ‘Fragile Moment’

Back at the Security Council, Guterres noted “a glimmer of hope” with the resumption of a high-level conference on a two-State solution and recent moves by countries including France and the United Kingdom to recognize Palestinian statehood.

“We cannot let this fragile moment slip away,” the UN chief emphasized, stressing that only diplomacy, adherence to international law, and respect for human dignity could pave the way toward a just and lasting peace.

Washington, Sep 24: US President Donald Trump held a multilateral meeting on Gaza with a select group of leaders of Muslim countries, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings in New York.

The meeting, held on Tuesday, was attended by leaders of Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, the UAE and Jordan.

The talks explored potential diplomatic, political, and humanitarian options aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing war in Gaza, with participants deliberating on pathways toward de-escalation, ceasefire arrangements, and long-term stability in the region.

In his brief remarks at the beginning of the discussion, Trump said it was his “most important meeting” of the day, and the goal was to end the war in Gaza soon.

“This is my most important meeting. I’ve had important meetings. This is the one that’s very important to me, because we’re going to end something that you have probably never started. We want to end the war in Gaza. We are going to end it. Maybe we can end it right now,” he said.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim thanked Trump for hosting a meeting on Gaza, saying that the Arab leaders are counting on him to end the conflict.

“The only reason we are here is to stop the war and bring the hostages back, and we count on you and your leadership as well to end this war and to help the people of Gaza,” he told Trump.

After the engagement ended, Trump did not take the questions from reporters but said he had a “very good meeting.”

Earlier in the day, during his address at the UNGA, Trump squarely blamed Hamas for rejecting the “reasonable offers” to make peace and criticised countries that have recently recognised a Palestinian state.

“We can’t forget October 7. As if to encourage continued conflict, some of this body is seeking to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state. The rewards would be too great for Hamas terrorists for their atrocities. “Those who want peace should be united with one message: release the hostages now. Just release the hostages now,” he added.

This week, 10 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, have formally recognised a Palestinian state.

New Delhi, Sep 24: At least 14 people have died in Taiwan after Super Typhoon Ragasa caused a barrier lake in Hualien County to overflow, flooding the town of Guangfu, international media reported. Officials say it is the strongest storm of the year.

The storm has already battered the northern Philippines and is now moving towards southern China. It is expected to hit Guangdong province of China on Wednesday, where more than 370,000 people have already been evacuated.

In Guangdong’s Zhuhai city, people have taped up windows and secured their homes ahead of landfall. Across the region, schools have been suspended as China braces for the typhoon.

In Hong Kong, authorities have raised the storm warning to level 10, their highest alert. Schools and businesses have closed, supermarket shelves are empty, and hundreds of flights have been cancelled. Residents have been urged to stay indoors, away from windows and doors, until the storm passes.

The Hong Kong Observatory reported wind gusts of up to 206 km/h at Ngong Ping plateau and warned of storm surges up to 5 metres in some coastal areas.