Overview

• France formally recognized a Palestinian state at the UN gathering, following weekend announcements by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal, with Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and Monaco also declaring or confirming recognition.
• The General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to permit Abbas to address the high-level session by video after U.S. visa revocations for him and dozens of Palestinian Authority officials, a move Washington defended on security and accountability grounds despite criticism citing the UN Headquarters Agreement.
• Speaking by video, Abbas called for a permanent ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access through the UN and UNRWA, the release of all hostages, and said Hamas should be excluded from governance and surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.
• UN Secretary‑General António Guterres said a two‑state solution is the only credible path to peace and urged an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unconditional hostage releases and full humanitarian access while condemning settlement expansion and escalating violence.
• The United States and Israel opposed both the procedural step and the recognition push, and analysts noted that practical changes remain constrained because full UN membership requires Security Council approval where a U.S. veto can block admission.