As world leaders gather in New York for the United Nations General Assembly this week, the ongoing war in Gaza and its global reverberations have taken center stage, exposing deep international divides and prompting urgent diplomatic efforts. From arms embargoes and high-level meetings to protests and calls for accountability, the conflict’s impact is being felt in capitals from Madrid to Beirut, and in the halls of the UN itself.
On September 25, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his diplomatic schedule in New York by meeting with Paraguayan President Santiago Peña. According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu praised Paraguay for its “consistent opposition to anti-Israel bias at the UN, the International Criminal Court and other international bodies.” The two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in areas such as security, technology, and energy, with Peña reaffirming his country’s support for Israel and its stance against terrorism. Paraguay’s recent move of its embassy to Jerusalem was highlighted as a sign of unwavering support.
Yet, the mood elsewhere in Europe was far less supportive. Spain, in a move reported by Globes and The Times of Israel, announced the cancellation of a $207 million deal to purchase Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ Litening 5 targeting pods from Israel, making it the third major arms contract Madrid has scrapped in recent weeks. Earlier in September, Spain canceled contracts for 12 SILAM rocket launcher systems and 168 anti-tank missile launchers, worth nearly $825 million and $337.5 million respectively. The arms embargo is part of a broader package of measures aimed at halting what Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called “the genocide in Gaza.” Spain’s decree bans all exports and imports of defense materials and dual-use technologies with Israel.
This growing international pressure comes amid a deadly toll for journalists and civilians in Gaza. On August 25, 2025, a strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis killed five journalists—Mariam Dagga, Hussam al-Masri, Moaz Abu Taha, and two others—along with 17 additional people. According to Reuters and the Associated Press, both agencies demanded on September 25 that Israel explain the deaths and take steps to protect journalists covering the conflict. Their joint statement emphasized, “We renew our demand for a clear account from the Israeli authorities and urge the government to uphold its obligations to ensure press freedom and protection.” The Nasser Hospital, they noted, is protected under international law and is crucial for news coverage from Gaza. The Israeli military claimed it was targeting a Hamas surveillance camera and that the journalists were not intended targets, calling the incident a “mishap.” Yet, as the agencies pointed out, Israel has not responded to their initial joint letter, and nearly 200 journalists have been killed in the region since October 7, 2023, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists—a staggering number compared to the 18 journalists killed in the Ukraine war.
Meanwhile, the military escalation continues. On September 25, a ballistic missile launched by Houthi forces in Yemen was intercepted by Israeli air defenses, following a series of IDF strikes on Houthi targets in Sanaa. The Israeli Air Force, according to official statements, used more than 65 munitions in the largest single strike in Yemen to date, targeting military headquarters, weapon storage facilities, and propaganda offices. The attacks were in response to repeated missile and drone strikes on Israel, including a drone that hit Eilat and wounded over 20 people. Israeli officials have vowed to “conduct additional offensive operations” against the Houthis to protect civilians.
Diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza conflict are intensifying, with US President Donald Trump’s administration at the forefront. On September 25, Netanyahu and his Strategic Affairs Adviser Ron Dermer met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in New York to discuss Trump’s plan for Gaza. Channel 12 and Channel 13 reported that Trump’s 21-point proposal, presented to Arab and Muslim leaders on September 23, envisions post-war demilitarization of Gaza and Palestinian Authority (PA) governance over parts of the territory. However, Netanyahu is reportedly uneasy with the fact that Hamas’s disarmament and Gaza’s demilitarization would only be required after the war, and that the UN Security Council would oversee the new governance mechanism. The framework also includes a role for the PA, despite Netanyahu’s past opposition to such an arrangement. Sources close to the Israeli leader suggest that a compromise may be inevitable, with the PA likely to control at least some of the Strip after the war.
Palestinian representatives, meanwhile, are organizing a walkout during Netanyahu’s UN speech on September 26, in protest against Israel’s policies and recent Western recognitions of Palestinian statehood. According to The Times of Israel, several Arab, African, and European countries may join the walkout, underscoring the diplomatic isolation Israel faces from some quarters.
The regional picture is further complicated by developments in Lebanon, where thousands of Hezbollah supporters gathered to project images of former leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine on Beirut’s iconic Raouche rocks, marking the first anniversary of their deaths in Israeli airstrikes last year. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the unauthorized light show, ordering investigations and possible arrests. A Hezbollah spokesperson insisted the event was an exercise of “freedom of expression” under Lebanon’s constitution, but the display was widely seen as a show of force by the group, which has faced setbacks and pressure since last year’s war.
Back in Israel, significant internal developments are unfolding. The Senior Appointments Advisory Committee approved the candidacy of former IDF general David Zini as director of the Shin Bet security agency, clearing the way for cabinet approval. Despite questions about the appointment process, the committee found “no ethical or conflict-of-interest barrier” to Zini’s selection and affirmed the prime minister’s legal authority to propose him.
In the United States, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned senior military officers from around the world to a rare meeting in Quantico, Virginia, scheduled for early October. Reuters reports that the sudden call has caused uncertainty among attendees, with Pentagon officials offering little explanation for the gathering. Some speculate that the reason may be mundane, but the lack of clarity has fueled speculation at a time of heightened global tensions.
As the diplomatic, military, and humanitarian crises continue to unfold, the world’s attention remains riveted on the conflict and its far-reaching effects. The coming days at the United Nations may prove pivotal, as leaders grapple with the complex realities and competing demands for justice, security, and peace in the region.
The stakes could hardly be higher, and with every new development, the urgency for solutions—however elusive—grows more acute.
