UAE statement to the 80th UN General Assembly, delivered by Minister of State Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, 27 Sep 2025 (English; UAE institutional position under MBZ)

Madam President,

Today, the world is marked by turmoil, conflict, and humanitarian crises. Threats to state sovereignty, proliferation risks and extremist ideologies persist, undermining the foundations of stability and development.

Amidst these challenges, my country has chosen the path of prudence and de-escalation, leveraging its capabilities to build bridges, prevent conflicts, and place the interests of humanity above all. We have sought to strengthen the mechanisms for international cooperation and multilateralism, as well as the norms and principles of the UN Charter and international law. In doing so, the UAE promotes the principles of good neighbourliness and respect for sovereignty of states.

My country has also championed genuine humanitarian diplomacy, aimed at preserving the dignity of individuals in the most difficult circumstances. We have sought to bridge divides; facilitating the exchange of thousands of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine, hosting peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and undertaking efforts to de-escalate tensions in South Asia and beyond.

There is no doubt that what we are witnessing today in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is not only a result of, but serves extremists and warmongers efforts, who seek to undermine the path to a peaceful resolution. Nothing can justify targeting tens of thousands of civilians, or besieging, starving and forcibly displacing hundreds of thousands; nor can anything excuse the pursuit of unacceptable expansionist ambitions, including the threat of annexing the West Bank.

Similarly, there is no justification for the taking of hostages or the targeting of civilians in conflict. International law, including international humanitarian law, must be respected.

This situation also cannot serve as an excuse to attack countries in the region. **Israel's treacherous and reprehensible attack against the State of Qatar constituted a flagrant violation of its territorial integrity and of the security of the Arabian Gulf region, as well as a breach of the most fundamental principles of international law.** Aggression will not bring stability to the region.

My country has always believed in the centrality of the two-State solution and the realization of an independent, sovereign Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with the State of Israel, in security, peace and prosperity. This is a fundamental requirement for achieving a permanent, just, and comprehensive solution to this issue — with **a Palestinian State capable of fulfilling the aspirations of the Palestinian people, restricting the use of weapons, and ensuring security, stability, and the rule of law, with no place for terrorist and extremist groups.**

My country welcomes the growing recognition of the State of Palestine. We invite others to follow this approach as an investment in a better future for the region.

Our first and most urgent demands remain an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, ending the siege on Gaza, releasing the hostages and detainees, and urgent, unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid at-scale. The UAE continues its role as the largest donor of aid to Gaza, mobilising all its relations, resources, and capabilities to this end.

As part of our commitment to prioritizing diplomatic solutions and justice in the international system, my country continues to place the dispute of the three occupied Emirati islands in the Arabian Gulf — Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa — at the forefront of its national priorities. We continue to call on Iran to end its occupation of these islands, which are an integral part of UAE territory, as well as to respond to our repeated calls to resolve this dispute through direct negotiations or by resorting to the International Court of Justice.

We also reiterate here our full support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Moroccan Sahara and endorse the Autonomy Initiative within the framework of Moroccan territorial integrity.

The brutal scene unfolding in Gaza is not the only crisis engulfing our region. In Sudan, people are experiencing immense human suffering and famine. My country stands with the Sudanese people, supporting their aspirations to end this civil war and its profound humanitarian consequences.

Sustainable peace cannot be achieved through military solutions. **A transitional process must be pursued in Sudan, leading to an independent civilian government, one that is not controlled by any of the warring parties, and which denies space to extremism and terrorism.**

In conclusion, at a time when our international institutions are weakened and the principles of international law are undermined, we must live up to our shared responsibility to ensure the continuity of our international system, to restore its credibility, and to secure a better future for generations to come.

Thank you, Madam President.