Senior independent rights investigators appointed by the Human Rights Council alleged on Tuesday that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide, a charge flatly rejected by Tel Aviv.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged world leaders to “get serious – and deliver” as they begin arriving in New York for the high-level week of the 80th General Assembly.
As bombs continue to fall on Gaza City as part of Israel’s intensifying military operation, families with starving children are being pushed southwards from one “hellscape” to another, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
Amid reports of intensifying bombardment in Gaza City overnight, the Middle East crisis took centre stage at the UN on Tuesday, starting at the global body's Geneva headquarters, where Israel rejected allegations of genocide by an international panel of independent human rights investigators. The development came ahead of an urgent debate at the Human Rights Council prompted by Israeli strikes on Hamas political leadership last week in Doha. UN News app users can follow live here.
At the start of the 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna on Monday, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi spoke about the nuclear challenges the world faces and called on States to “recommit” to non-proliferation.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) called on Monday for countries to overcome the remaining obstacles to concluding the global pandemic treaty.
The United Nations has sounded the alarm over Sudan’s spiralling crisis, warning that deadly attacks in El Fasher, the collapse of essential services, and mass displacement are pushing millions in Darfur and beyond closer to catastrophe.
The Ukrainian conflict has recorded the highest confirmed death and injury toll from cluster munitions for the third year running, UN-backed researchers said on Monday.
The United Nations has condemned the deadly Israeli military offensive in Gaza City that occurred this past weekend, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Monday.
Yemen faces a surge of violence and hunger that threatens millions with starvation and risks destabilizing neighbouring countries. The crisis, deeply linked to wider regional conflicts, is straining humanitarian efforts and heightening tensions across the Middle East.
Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned a deadly gang attack in Haiti that left at least 40 people dead, including women, children and the elderly, in the commune of Cabaret.
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Mr. President,
We noted with deep concern the reports that Russian military drones entered Poland, in violation of Polish airspace.
Our briefing today relies entirely on publicly available information. The United Nations is not in a position to verify or confirm claims or reports regarding the incident.
On 10 September Poland informed the President of the Security Council that during the night of 9 and 10 September, 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace. Some of them were shot down pre-emptively.
This is not the first time that drones have been detected in neighbouring countries during the full-scale war in Ukraine. But it is the first time that multiple drones have flown so deep into a neighbouring country’s airspace.
It is also the first time that force was used by Poland and its NATO allies to neutralize the perceived threat.
According to Poland’s Ministry of Interior and Administration, wreckage from some 16 drones has been found across central and eastern Poland.
Media reports suggest that at least some of these devices were so-called Gerbera drones used by the Russian Federation in the war in Ukraine.
The drones reportedly caused damage in residential areas in the Polish villages of Wyryki and Czosnowka. Drone debris was also reported in the town of Czesniki. Fortunately, Polish authorities reported no casualties.
Four major airports, including those in Warsaw and Rzeszów, were temporarily closed, and flights diverted.
Poland authorities stated that some of the drones entered from Belarus.
The Belarusian Ministry of Defense claimed that the Russian drones were deflected by counter-drone measures of Ukrainian forces and veered off course.
Belarus stated that it had alerted Poland and Lithuania as drones approached their airspace. This was confirmed by the Polish military. Belarus also reported that its air defences intercepted several drones over its territory.
Following the incident, Poland introduced restrictions to air traffic in the eastern part of the country in areas neighbouring Belarus and Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation stated that Russia had no intention to engage any targets on the territory of Poland.
The Russian authorities acknowledged carrying out, during the same time period, a “massive strike with long-range, land-based, sea-based, and air-based high precision weapons, as well as attack drones against the Ukrainian defence industry” in Western Ukrainian regions.
The Russian Federation also expressed readiness to hold consultations with Polish authorities on the matter.
Following the incident, Poland invoked Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which lead to consultations among the allies on 10 September.
Mr. President,
We reiterate the Secretary-General’s call for all concerned to act responsibly and to avoid any action and rhetoric that would further escalate already dangerously high tensions.
This alarming incident took place against the backdrop of continued large-scale Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine.
According to President Zelenskyy, during the night of 9 to 10 September, Russia launched 415 drones and over 40 cruise and ballistic missiles against 15 regions of Ukraine, resulting in civilian casualties, including at least one death.
On 9 September, in the frontline village of Yarova in Donetsk region, a guided bomb reportedly struck a group of mostly elderly civilians waiting for pension payments, killing at least 24 and injuring 18.
On 7 September, Russian attacks across Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, Sumy and Chernihiv killed and injured civilians and damaged civilian infrastructure. Among those killed was a woman with her newborn child in Kyiv.
In central Kyiv, a government building – housing the offices of Ukraine’s Prime Minister – was struck for the first time since the start of the war, marking a further escalation.
New Russian aerial attacks were reported again on the night of 10 and 11 September.
The intensification of the war is borne out by the growing number of casualties.
According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), at least 208 civilians were killed and 827 injured in Ukraine in August 2025 alone. Short-range drones caused the highest number of casualties, killing 58 and injuring 272 civilians last August.
August and September also saw an increase in attacks affecting energy infrastructure, particularly gas facilities, once again raising fears of a new wave of targeted attacks against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure ahead of the approaching winter.
We are equally concerned about the continuing impact of the war on civilians in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine and within the Russian Federation.
On 8 September, in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine, Russian officials reported that two people were killed and 16 people were injured by an alleged Ukrainian drone strike.
A day earlier, an alleged Ukrainian attack reportedly struck a playground, injuring six civilians, including a 14-year-old girl, in the same region, according to Russian officials.
Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law. They are unacceptable and must end immediately, wherever they occur.
Mr. President,
This week’s events underline the dangerous impact of this war on the security of the region and the risk of escalation.
This incident also endangers the recent diplomatic efforts to achieve an end to this unprovoked and brutal war.
We, therefore, once again urgently call for a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine.
The end state must be a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant UN resolutions.
The United Nations remains available to support all genuine efforts to this end.
Thank you.
The UN Security Council is set to meet in an emergency session Friday afternoon (New York time) to discuss the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones, amid concerns that the conflict in Ukraine could spill over into the wider region.
Reports that Russian drones crossed deep into Polish territory and were shot down by NATO allies highlight the growing regional risks of the war in Ukraine, UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo told ambassadors in the Security Council on Friday.
Aid agencies working in war-torn Sudan issued an alert on Friday over the particular harm faced by children there, the longer the conflict goes on.
Applause rang out in the UN General Assembly Hall on Friday as countries endorsed a declaration on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and implementation of the two-State solution with Israel.
UN agencies in Nepal welcomed the appointment of Sushila Karki as interim prime minister on Friday, as the country reels from a deadly crackdown on youth-led protests that left more than 50 dead, widespread destruction and forced the resignation of her predecessor.
In the Gaza Strip, hope may be all that is left but it is not enough to keep people alive, a veteran humanitarian said on Friday, calling for more action to end the conflict and stop the bloodshed.
The UN Secretary-General appealed on Friday for greater efforts towards peace in a “fractured world” where conflicts are increasing.
The Security Council is meeting in emergency session at Poland’s request at 3pm in New York, after some 19 Russian drones violated their and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) airspace earlier this week. It marked the most serious incursion into NATO territory since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began – and highlights the extent to which drone technology has reshaped tactics, logistics and strategy in wars worldwide. Follow the live coverage of the debate around the iconic horseshoe table below.
Mr President,
We gather, yet again, as the scope of violence in the Middle East has widened, further threatening regional security and stability.
Israel’s airstrikes in Doha, Qatar, on 9 September, shocked the world. It was an alarming escalation, especially since it targeted individuals who were reportedly gathered to discuss the latest US proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza.
The Secretary-General condemned this strike as a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He calls on Member States to ensure respect for their obligations under international law, including the principles of the United Nations Charter.
The sovereignty and territorial integrity of any country, including Qatar – a valued partner in advancing peacemaking and conflict resolution – must be respected.
According to statements by Qatar, Israel targeted residential compounds housing members of the Political Bureau of Hamas around 15:45 local time on Tuesday.
Hamas stated that the son of its chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, as well as his office manager and three other people affiliated with the group, were killed. Hamas also said that its senior leadership - survived the attack.
According to Qatar, one Qatari security officer was killed, and several other security personnel were injured.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry immediately condemned the attack, saying “this criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms” that posed “a serious threat to the security and safety” of the country.
Israel claimed responsibility for the attack as soon as the news broke.
Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that the strike was “a wholly independent Israeli operation” after the fatal attack in Jerusalem on 8 September, for which Hamas claimed responsibility.
Many countries, in the region and beyond, as well as regional organizations, including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the League of Arab States (LAS), and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), condemned the attack and expressed concern about further escalation.
Mr. President,
In less than a month, we will mark the second anniversary of the horrific acts of terror that sparked the hostilities in Gaza. In those two years, the conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, and almost completely destroyed Gaza.
And the situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has continued to spiral downward.
This period has also seen dangerous escalations across the region involving Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.
The Israeli attack on Doha potentially opens a new and perilous chapter in this devastating conflict, seriously threatening regional peace and stability.
Qatar, along with Egypt and the United States, has been working intensively to broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza – efforts aimed at ending the suffering and paving a path toward peace.
We are deeply grateful for Qatar’s steadfast commitment and constructive diplomacy.
All parties must act to preserve these efforts. Regrettably, Israel’s actions came at the height of ongoing consultations with the parties.
Any action that undermines the work of mediation and dialogue weakens confidence in the very mechanisms we depend on for conflict resolution.
Preserving the integrity of negotiation and mediation channels is crucial for fostering the trust that parties need to engage in meaningful dialogue. It is also vital for safeguarding the norms that underpin diplomacy and peacemaking.
Durable and just solutions to the crises in the Middle East will not come out of more violence and more fighting.
I call on all stakeholders to exercise utmost restraint at this sensitive time and recommit to diplomacy.
The urgency of a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza has never been greater. Strike a deal. Free the hostages. End the suffering of the people of Gaza.
Thank you, Mr. President.
The devastating earthquakes that struck eastern Afghanistan at the end of August have killed more than 2,200 people and pushed nearly half a million into crisis.
Millions of people in Myanmar “live in daily fear for their lives,” said the head of the UN refugee agency on Thursday, following a three-day visit to the conflict-ridden country.
The Security Council is meeting in emergency session to discuss Israel’s strike on the capital of Qatar, Doha, which targeted Hamas’ political leadership on Tuesday. The UN’s political affairs chief told ambassadors the attack in violation of Qatar’s sovereignty was a serious threat to regional peace and security – undermining international mediation efforts to end the war in Gaza and return the hostages. Follow our in-depth live meetings coverage below.
The Security Council on Thursday heard from the UN’s top political affairs official on Israel’s deadly airstrike in Doha – an “alarming escalation” condemned as a violation of sovereignty that threatens ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiations in Gaza.
The UN Secretary-General is closely monitoring reports that Russian drones violated Polish airspace overnight into Wednesday, resulting in damage to some residential areas.
The head of the UN’s atomic energy agency announced on Wednesday that a deal has been struck with Iran to resume cooperation on inspections of Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
The death toll from Nepal’s youth-led anti-corruption protests has climbed to 30, with political uncertainty continuing on Wednesday – day three of a dramatic crisis that forced the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and left government buildings in flames across the capital and beyond.
The UN and humanitarian partners warned on Wednesday that nearly one million civilians in Gaza City who have been told to leave by the Israeli military have nowhere safe to go.
Mr. President,
Thank you for convening this meeting on the review of UN peace operations mandated by the Pact for the Future.
Since the Council last addressed this topic in July, we have continued our extensive consultations process. Over 40 Member States responded to our call for written inputs and offered ideas and reflections. More than 20 civil society organizations contributed inputs so far. This work continues, with more engagements to come.
One message is clear in these contributions: for eight decades, UN peace operations have been an essential instrument of multilateral action for peace. They have enabled the United Nations to deliver effective responses to critical peace and security challenges. They have saved lives.
The spectrum of these operations is broad and diverse: it ranges from special envoys, regional offices and expert panels supporting Sanctions Committees to peacebuilding and electoral support initiatives. And it includes observer and verification missions and multidimensional peacekeeping operations that combine troops, police and civilian capabilities.
In many contexts, different types of mission have been co-deployed to provide the mix of peace support needed.
Today, our missions operate in an environment marked by increasing geopolitical fragmentation.
Conflicts have become more internationalized, with the involvement of global or regional actors influencing their internal dynamics. Meanwhile, non-state armed groups continue to proliferate. Many use terrorist tactics or espouse unclear political objectives, challenging traditional peacemaking approaches.
New technologies, from AI to drones, are being weaponized on an industrial scale, increasing both the lethality of violence and the likelihood of escalation. And transnational drivers, such as organized crime, are now a regular facet of the conflict landscape.
These trends have made peacemaking and conflict resolution harder to achieve today.
Opinions diverge among Member States, especially within the Security Council and among host states, on how and to what end peace operations should be deployed, and what the conditions are for their success. This is why a review on the future of UN peace operations is timely.
Mr. President,
To draw lessons for the future, we must learn from the past.
Throughout its history, the United Nations has grappled with intractable conflicts and deep divisions.
Special political missions have been at the forefront of the Organization’s response. From supporting decolonization in Libya and facilitating peace agreements in Central America, to helping South Africa organize its first post-apartheid elections, these missions have supported close to 100 countries across all regions of the world.
They have helped end wars. In Nepal, between 2007 and 2011, our mission helped transform a ceasefire between the Government and the Communist Party of Nepal into a permanent, sustainable peace and political transition.
They have allowed Member States, and the Security Council itself, to find common ground and advance political solutions even at times of high political tensions and deep ideological divisions.
During the Cold War, for example, shuttle diplomacy by the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Afghanistan between Moscow, Washington, Islamabad and Kabul led to indirect negotiations and eventually laid the ground for the 1988 Geneva Accords, which ended the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
In order to inform this review of peace operations, we analyzed the history and practice of special political missions deployed since the creation of the United Nations.
Their experiences revealed the following.
First, many of our missions were timebound and targeted. The focus was on a political task, without additional activities overextending the mission’s mandate and focus.
Second, most missions were nimble, easy to deploy, economical to maintain without major overheads and costs.
Third, their mandates were often written concisely and directly manner – sometimes one or two sentences only in a Security Council resolution. This gave the missions clear directions, but also a degree of flexibility in implementing them.
Fourth, missions took great advantage of existing capabilities at Headquarters – from senior officials to substantive experts. These were used as deployable assets, leveraging their political knowledge and diplomatic experience.
Fifth, missions were proactive in using the Secretary-General’s good offices, both through his immediate office and that of his representatives and the UN Secretariat.
Mr. President,
Based on our analysis of past deployments, recent UN reform efforts in peace and security, and consultations held so far, we see three important priorities for designing special political missions today:
First, most of our missions today are deployed in the absence of a comprehensive peace agreement.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, peace agreements were the foundation for the work of peace operations. They encompassed the ambitious commitments that conflict parties undertook across multiple areas, from electoral and constitutional processes to security sector reform and transitional justice. Our peace operations, in turn, could be equally ambitious as were, for example, our missions in Cambodia and Timor Leste.
Today, comprehensive peace agreements are the exception, not the norm. Our missions are often deployed in politically volatile situations, sometimes amid ongoing civil wars.
In such situations, the initial goals of our missions should be more limited – such as preventing a deterioration of violence, achieving a ceasefire, or helping a fragile incipient peace process get off the ground. At the same time, they could retain flexibility and adaptability to scale up and seize opportunities at a later stage to advance more ambitious political solutions.
Second, we must continue to improve coordination between peace operations and United Nations country teams.
We must build on the concerted efforts we have made over the years to strengthen the complementarity of our political, development, humanitarian and human rights work.
This is an all-of-UN endeavour, and different bodies, especially the Peacebuilding Commission, can play a critical role. I am confident that the 2025 Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture will help us make additional gains.
Third, the diversity of situations in which our missions are asked to deploy today means that it is essential for mandates to avoid one-size-fits-all approaches.
Accordingly, the Secretariat must provide the Security Council with varied and realistic options for the design of new operations. For this purpose, we will examine how to further improve our planning capacities, enhance creativity and innovation in how missions can be configured, to inform mandate renewals, and to improve transitions.
Mr. President,
There is one fundamental fact that no review, no matter how extensive or ambitious, can change: the failure or weak implementation of mandates is often related to the lack of political support for such operations – in the countries where they are deployed, among regional countries and sometimes in the Council, itself.
We will therefore need to engage with a laser like focus on bringing the emphasis back to the political questions at the heart of each conflict and finding multilateral responses to them.
We look forward to working with you to strengthen the effectiveness of our missions, and to further enhance the trust in their work.
Thank you.
The UN Secretary-General has condemned an Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on Tuesday, while highlighting the “very positive role” played by the country in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and securing the release of hostages.
A high-level independent rights probe into the brutal war in Sudan condemned the many grave crimes committed by all combatants, citing evidence indicating that civilians have been “deliberately targeted, displaced and starved”.
Global military spending reached an unprecedented $2.7 trillion in 2024 amid intensifying wars and rising geopolitical tensions worldwide.
As the UN General Assembly opened its 80th session on Tuesday, new President Annalena Baerbock called on Member States to unite in addressing global crises – from war and poverty to climate change – taking her oath on the original 1945 Charter and pledging to lead with courage and inclusiveness.
With a record number of active conflicts worldwide, the Security Council met on Tuesday to debate the future of UN peace operations.
A Russian airstrike on a Ukrainian village in the frontline region of Donetsk on Tuesday has reportedly killed more than 20 – including many elderly civilians who were lining up to collect pension payments.
Nepal’s Prime Minister resigned on Tuesday following a violent crackdown on youth-led anti-corruption protests left at least 19 dead and hundreds injured, prompting urgent appeals from the United Nations for restraint and dialogue.
