King Abdullah II of Jordan addressed the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 2026, focusing on Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories and warning of potential territorial expansion by Israel. He briefly praised President Donald Trump's peace efforts for Gaza but criticized the Israeli government for failing to seize opportunities to end hostilities, stating, "This Israeli government keeps moving the goalposts, continuing its attacks and destruction of civilian infrastructure." Abdullah emphasized the interconnectedness of the West Bank and Gaza, describing the situation as forced displacement, which he noted is considered a war crime by the United Nations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also spoke at the assembly, condemning Israel's actions and describing the situation in Gaza as a humanitarian crisis. He stated that over the past three years, 74,000 people, primarily women and children, have died due to what he termed acts of state terror by Israel. Erdogan characterized Gaza as a "concentration camp" and called for increased international pressure on Israel and recognition of a Palestinian state.
Abdullah concluded his speech by warning that Israel has become a "state without restraint" and cautioned that its ambitions may extend beyond Palestine. He referenced Syria as a warning sign of Israel's territorial expansion, suggesting that the international community must take notice of Israel's actions in the region. The speeches by both leaders reflect the ongoing tensions and complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Jordan and Turkey advocating for Palestinian rights and statehood at the international level.