On October 19, 2025, the world’s attention turned sharply to the United Nations in New York, where Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Holy See’s permanent observer, delivered a stark warning about the mounting dangers of global militarization. Addressing the General Debate of the First Committee during the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, Archbishop Caccia painted a picture of a world teetering on the edge, where trust among nations is eroding and vulnerable communities are bearing the brunt of escalating military ambitions.
“The spirit of diplomacy and multilateralism that once sought to protect humanity from the scourge of war is being overshadowed by the perilous resurgence of force and fear as ways to resolve disputes,” Caccia declared, according to Vatican News. His words came at a time when headlines from regions like Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia tell of growing military buildups and modernized arsenals, stoking fears of renewed conflict and suffering.
Nowhere was this more evident than in southern Gaza, where, on the very same day, Israeli airstrikes hit Rafah and other areas, as reported by Israeli media and confirmed by Channel 12. The strikes followed what was described as an "exchange of fire" with Hamas members, and came just days after a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas—brokered on October 10—had temporarily paused a two-year-long conflict in the region. The ceasefire, already under strain, now seemed even more precarious.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz, and senior army officials reportedly held urgent discussions by phone as the situation unfolded. The public broadcaster noted that these talks centered on the evolving security landscape and the next steps for Israel’s military strategy in Gaza. Netanyahu himself underscored the uncertainty ahead, stating pointedly that the Gaza war would “truly end” only once Hamas has been disarmed. His comments, widely interpreted as a signal of a potential 'Phase B' of military operations, have heightened international concerns about the durability of the ceasefire and the safety of civilians in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials accused Israeli forces of multiple violations of the truce. Gaza’s civil defence reported a particularly harrowing incident on October 17, when a tank shell fired into the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City killed 11 civilians. Among the dead were seven children and three women. Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the civil defence, noted that the victims could have been warned before the shelling, adding to the sense of tragedy and outrage.
These latest casualties have only deepened fears that the already fragile truce could collapse entirely, plunging the region back into open conflict. The United States, for its part, claimed to have "credible information" suggesting Hamas was planning attacks on fellow Gazans, though Hamas has denied these allegations. The airstrikes, civilian deaths, and competing narratives have left many in the international community questioning whether peace in Gaza is once again slipping out of reach.
Against this volatile backdrop, Archbishop Caccia’s address at the UN took on added urgency. He warned not just of traditional military threats, but of a new and more complex arms race—one marked by the integration of artificial intelligence into military systems and the extension of strategic competition into outer space. "The international community must redouble efforts to uphold peace, strengthen trust, and curb the forces of militarization that threaten the very foundations of human coexistence," he urged, as reported by Vatican News.
Caccia’s speech echoed growing global concern about the proliferation of advanced weapons technologies, particularly AI-driven systems that could fundamentally alter the nature of warfare. He highlighted the risks of lethal autonomous weapons systems—machines capable of selecting and engaging targets without human intervention. The archbishop called on member states to take urgent action against these emerging threats, specifically endorsing UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ appeal for a legally binding international agreement to ban such weapons by 2026.
“The integration of artificial intelligence into military systems and the extension of strategic competition into outer space are part of a new arms race posing unprecedented dangers to humanity,” Caccia warned. His plea for renewed diplomacy and multilateral engagement was not just a matter of principle, but a response to what he described as a “perilous resurgence of force and fear” as methods for resolving disputes.
Observers say the Vatican’s intervention comes at a moment when the world’s great powers are investing heavily in modernizing their arsenals and expanding their military footprints. From Eastern Europe, where tensions between NATO and Russia remain high, to East Asia, where strategic competition between the United States and China is intensifying, the risks of miscalculation or unintended escalation loom large. In the Middle East, the cycle of violence between Israel and Hamas serves as a grim reminder of how quickly ceasefires can unravel and how devastating the consequences can be for civilians caught in the crossfire.
For many diplomats and analysts, the events of October 19 have crystallized the urgent need for new international agreements and stronger mechanisms to manage military competition. The Vatican’s call for a ban on lethal autonomous weapons has found support among human rights advocates and some governments, who argue that such systems could make war even more unpredictable and deadly. Others, however, contend that technological advances are inevitable and that robust regulation—rather than outright bans—may be a more practical path forward.
As the world grapples with these dilemmas, the human cost is never far from view. In Gaza, the aftermath of the latest airstrikes and tank shelling has left families mourning their losses and communities bracing for what may come next. The fragile ceasefire, once a flicker of hope, now hangs by a thread.
In the halls of the United Nations, Archbishop Caccia’s message was clear: “The international community must redouble efforts to uphold peace, strengthen trust, and curb the forces of militarization that threaten the very foundations of human coexistence.” Whether the world’s leaders will heed this warning—and whether peace can be restored in places like Gaza—remains to be seen. But for now, the stakes could hardly be higher, and the call for urgent action has never sounded more compelling.
