Annalena Baerbock was speaking at a plenary meeting of the Assembly where countries debated a resolution affirming the responsibility of the UN on the question of Palestine.

“For 78 years, the Palestinian people have been denied their inalienable rights, in particular their right to self-determination,” she said. said.

“NOW, It is high time we took decisive action to end this decades-long stalemate.”

War in Gaza, violence in the West Bank

Baerbock said the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023 “triggered one of the darkest chapters of this conflict.”

She described the immense devastation and suffering in Gaza after two years of war, with thousands dead, countless injured, communities starving, civilian infrastructure destroyed and almost the entire population displaced.

The hostages were freed and reunited with their loved ones, while other families mourn the returned bodies.

Even as the horrors of Gaza dominated the news, she warned that settlement expansion, demolitions and increased settler violence in the West Bank continue to undermine prospects for a sovereign, independent, contiguous and viable Palestinian state.

Two sovereign states

“Everything that has happened over the past two years has highlighted what we have known for decades. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict cannot be resolved through illegal occupation, de jure Or de facto annexation, forced displacement, recurring terror or permanent war“, she said.

“Israelis and Palestinians will only live in lasting peace, security and dignity if they live side by side in two sovereign, independent states, with mutually recognized borders and full regional integration. »

This is highlighted in the New York Declaration, endorsed by many Member States and the United Nations. Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025), which approved the “Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza” proposed by the United States.

“Unfortunately, we still see on a daily basis that it’s just words on paper if we don’t keep our word“, she said.

Ceasefire and humanitarian aid

“We must ensure that the ceasefire is consolidated and becomes a permanent end to hostilities,” she added, noting that at least 67 children have been killed since the start of this fragile truce.

Ms. Baerbock also stressed the need to ensure that aid is delivered throughout the Gaza Strip safely and unhindered, and in full compliance with international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles.

This includes delivery through the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

She noted that “as indicated in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on Israel’s obligations…enabling UNRWA to fulfill its mandate and continue its operations is not simply a gesture of goodwill, it is a legal obligation.

Ms. Baerbock said that “the quest for peace, stability and justice in the Middle East needs our United Nations” – and that the General Assembly plays a significant role.

Right to self-determination

“This requires every member state to lead by example: engage in this process, respect the Charter of the United Nations, adhere to international law and the promise that this institution made to all the people of the world 80 years ago,” she continued.

“Let us remember once again: self-determination and the right to live in one’s own State in peace, security and dignity, free from war, occupation and violence, are fundamental principles. not a privilege to be earned, but a right to be defended.”

World Meteorological Organization (WMOSpokeswoman Clare Nullis told reporters in Geneva that Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam were among the countries most affected by what she described as “a combination of monsoon-related rainfall and tropical cyclone activity.”

“Asia is very, very vulnerable to flooding,” Nullis said, explaining that flooding regularly tops the list of climate risks in the region, according to WMO’s annual climate status reports.

However, she said tropical cyclones such as Senyar, which last week brought “torrential rain, widespread flooding and landslides” to Indonesia’s North Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand, are rare so close to the equator.

“It’s not something we see very often and it means the impacts are amplified because local communities… don’t have any experience in this area,” she pointed out.

Hundreds of deaths

The spokesperson for the UN weather agency cited figures released Tuesday by the Indonesian National Disaster Office, showing 604 dead, 464 missing and 2,600 injured. In total, some 1.5 million people have been affected in Indonesia and more than 570,000 have been displaced.

As for Viet Nam, Nullis said the South Asian country has been “beaten for weeks” and “bracing for even heavier rains.”

“Exceptional rains in recent weeks have flooded historic sites and popular tourist resorts and caused enormous damage,” she said.

1.79 meters of rain per day

In late October, a weather station in central Viet Nam recorded a national 24-hour rainfall record of 1,739 millimeters, which Ms. Nullis called “really huge.”

“This is the second highest known total for 24-hour precipitation in the world,” she said.

This exceptionally high value is currently being submitted to a formal WMO extremes assessment committee. According to the agency, a value greater than 1,700 mm would constitute a record for the Northern Hemisphere and Asia.

Ricardo Pires, spokesperson for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), described what he called a “rapid humanitarian emergency” in Sri Lanka, after Cyclone Ditwah made landfall last week on the country’s east coast, affecting some 1.4 million people, including 275,000 children.

“With communications cut and roads blocked, the real number of children affected is likely even higher,” warned Pires.. “Houses have been swept away, entire communities isolated and essential services that children depend on, such as water, healthcare and schooling, have been severely disrupted. »

The UNICEF spokesperson stressed that displacement has forced families to take refuge in dangerous and overcrowded shelters, while flooding and damaged water systems increase the risks of epidemics.

“The needs far exceed the resources available at present,” he insisted, calling for additional humanitarian funding and support for the most vulnerable.

Commenting on the intensity of devastating weather events, WMO’s Nullis explained that rising temperatures “increase the potential risk of more extreme precipitation because a warmer atmosphere retains more moisture.”

“It’s the law of physics… we are seeing more extreme precipitation and we will continue to do so in the future,” she concluded.

The issue was in the spotlight at U.N. headquarters Monday during a forum focused on the dangers and complexities of reporting from the occupied Palestinian territory.

The conversation “could not be more timely, nor more necessary,” said Melissa Fleming, head of the Department of Global Communications (DGC) who organized the 2025 United Nations International Media Seminar on Middle East Peace.

“This seminar invites us to reflect on how journalism in Israel and Palestine, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank, has become both a battleground and a lifeline,” she said.

“Unacceptable ban” on the foreign press, according to Guterres

Mrs. Fleming read a message of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres who said “journalists in Gaza face the same risks and realities as the people they cover – including displacement, starvation and death.”

Furthermore, the rules of war are clear: civilians and civilian infrastructure are not a target, and journalists must be able to carry out their essential work without interference, intimidation or harm.

“This includes the unacceptable ban preventing international journalists from accessing Gaza,” he said.

Fulfill their duty

Following the deadly attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, Gaza was subjected to a complete siege.

Wael Al-Dahdouh, head of the Gaza bureau of the Al Jazeera network, recalled that the enclave was isolated and that the supply of water, electricity, communications and internet was cut.

Nevertheless, journalists continued to work despite bombings, deprivation, personal loss and displacement.

“We felt so much responsibility towards you, towards the whole world,” he said in a video message.

“Because we realized that if we do not fulfill our duty with our will, even if it costs us our lives, the world will not see what is happening to two million people in this region as a result of the Israeli genocide. »

Putting pressure on Israel (Mansour)

The Permanent Observer of the Observer State of Palestine, Riyad Mansour, praised “the courageous Palestinian journalists in Gaza” because “thanks to them, this genocide in Gaza has become the most documented in history”.

He called on participants to pressure Israel to allow entry to foreign journalists.

“We should ask ourselves why Israel does not allow foreign aid to Gaza. Do not accept their security excuse. Foreign journalists were allowed in all war zones except Gaza,” he said.

Protection, access and accountability

Jodie Ginsberg, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), stressed the need for protection and independent access to Gaza, as well as accountability.

She stressed that “allowing international access to Gaza is not a consequence for Palestinian journalists” but “a standard that we should insist on and support for these Palestinian journalists.”

Relatives also targeted

Nasser Abu Bakr, president of the Palestinian Journalists’ Union, reported that more than 255 journalists have been killed in Gaza, representing 18 percent of the total number of journalists in the strip.

More than 500 people were injured and Israel arrested more than 200 others who were subjected to extreme torture in prison. In addition, relatives of journalists have also been killed or targeted.

He said the union and the International Union of Journalists are ready to cooperate with the Secretary-General by submitting a report detailing the systemic crimes perpetrated against journalists in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Furthermore, the time has come to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 2222 (2015)) which condemns impunity for crimes against journalists.

“We want this resolution to be implemented on the occupation, and for the people of the state of occupation to be held accountable for these crimes against our journalists,” he said in a video message.

Journalism is vital for peace

The Secretary-General’s message confirmed the UN’s unwavering commitment to a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, and the work of journalists is essential to building the informed global consensus necessary to achieve this goal.

The UN chief expressed hope that the dialogue “will strengthen respect for press freedom and the protection and safety of journalists in the Middle East” and help lay the foundations for a just and lasting peace.

António Guterres told the Fifth Committee THE The UN faces its most fragile cash situation in yearsdespite the strong reductions already planned next year’s budget plans.

“Liquidity remains fragile and this challenge will persist regardless of the final approved budget,” he said. saidby designating the “unacceptable volume of arrears” owed by Member States.

The UN ended 2024 with $760 million in unpaid contributions, most still unpaid, and has yet to receive $877 million in contributions due for 2025 – bringing total arrears to approximately $1.586 billion.

With less than five weeks remaining in the year, only 145 of the 193 UN member states have paid their dues in full for 2025.

Major contributors such as the United States and Russia have yet to pay what they owe, although China paid its contribution in full on October 29.

“I have repeatedly called on Member States to pay their contributions in full and on time,” the Secretary-General said, warning that cash shortfalls are forcing the organization to operate well below approved budget levels.

Strong spending cuts are already planned

The warning comes as delegations review revised UN regular budget estimates for 2026, which already reflect deep structural cuts under the UN80 reform initiative – a system-wide efficiency drive to modernize operations and reduce costs.

According to the revised proposal, the UN regular budget for 2026 would be $3.238 billion, a reduction of $577 million – or 15.1 percent – ​​compared to 2025. Some 2,681 positions would be eliminateda reduction of 18.8 percent from current levels.

Special political missions would also face cuts of more than 21 percent compared to 2025 levels, largely due to mission closures and workforce rationalization.

Consolidated functions, outsourced jobs

As part of the savings campaign, the UN plans to consolidate payroll processing in a single global team spread across three duty stations and create shared administrative centers starting with New York and Bangkok.

The Secretariat also examines functions that can be moved to lower cost locations. Since 2017, lease terminations in New York have already saved $126 million, and an additional $24.5 million per year is expected to be saved through additional closures by 2028.

The plan includes one-time separation and relocation costs of $5.4 million as voluntary separation programs are used to limit involuntary job losses.

Delegations intervene

The revised estimates were reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (CCAQB) and are now before the Fifth Committee for negotiations for the approval of the end-of-year budget.

ACABQ President Juliana Gaspar Ruas said the body welcomed the reform push, warning that the revised estimates had been prepared under tight deadlines, limiting ACABQ’s ability to fully assess the rationale for some proposed reductions. While supporting consolidation and efficiency efforts, she also flagged inconsistent methodologies across departments and called for clearer criteria for relocating staff.

Member States welcomed the Secretary-General’s efforts to present the revised estimates, recognized the Organization’s ongoing liquidity challenges, and expressed support for a stronger and more agile United Nations.

Several delegations, however, echoed concerns about the tight schedule, warning that the late arrival of key documents hampers a thorough review. Some diplomats have warned that the proposed cuts would hit junior and general service staff more than senior positions, threatening both geographic balance and a rejuvenating workforce.

Others have warned that the proposed staff cuts appear uneven across the UN’s three pillars, with proportionately greater reductions in development-related programs.

The Secretary-General said he was “sincerely concerned” by this concern. He insisted that, generally speaking, the development pillar actually faces the smallest proportional reduction, with Africa-related programs largely protected and the biggest cuts falling on support and back-office functions rather than front-line delivery.

“Our commitment to development is absolutely fundamental and our commitment to the African continent is absolutely fundamental,” he said.

Final approval will require approval from the full General Assembly later this month.

Cash flow crisis is already affecting operations

Despite the planned cuts, Secretary-General Guterres said the UN had already been forced to underspend in 2025 because cash was simply not available.

“The vacant positions do not correspond to a strategic priority,” he said, “but simply by the fact that people left and we don’t have the money to pay for the replacement.»

To protect liquidity, the UN has proposed temporarily suspending the return of budget credits to countries – essentially delaying repayments until liquidity levels stabilize.

“It’s difficult to return money because we didn’t receive it,“, Mr. Guterres told the committee.

He warned that unless payments improve, financial stress will continue to hurt operations, regardless of the reduction in the approved budget.

More than 230,000 families, or around 1.15 million people, received food packages each month between November 1 and 27, via 59 distribution points, including 21 in northern Gaza.

Shelter partners have distributed more than 8,800 blankets and more than 300 tents, and additional tarps and mattresses arrived this week.

Flood risk

Site management teams warn that flooding remains a major risk. Sandbags were deployed at 41 displacement sites, while for-hire crews reinforced drainage and collected empty flour sacks to improve insulation.

UN-coordinated aid entering Gaza on Friday included dignity kits, menstrual health items, medical supplies and adolescent kits – although road damage and limited transport continue to restrict access, particularly in the north.

Protection partners say gender-based violence services reached 671 women and girls in one day last week, with new tents allowing safe spaces to reopen after flood damage.

Speaking to reporters in New York on Monday, UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said humanitarian conditions remained extremely dire, even as aid operations continued.

The humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, Ramiz Alakbarov, has just completed a fact-finding mission to Gaza, emphasizing the importance of unhindered humanitarian access.

“Meanwhile, our partners leading the health response report that they continue to restore services throughout the Gaza Strip – with 234 health service points now operational, compared to 197 before the ceasefire», added Mr. Dujarric.

Shelter needs

Shelter needs are still high, with some 1.5 million people need urgent help.

Over the weekend, 160 performance tents arrived in Gaza for learning activities – the largest influx so far. However, school supplies and other school supplies are still not allowed into Gaza, Dujarric warned, hampering efforts to scale up the response.

About 123,000 families have received cash assistance since the start of the fragile truce, surpassing the target of 120,000 set by the 60-day ceasefire plan.