Trump Slams Palestinian Statehood Push in UNGA Address, Calls for Hostage Release

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

UNITED NATIONS (Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald Trump used his first United Nations General Assembly speech in six years to sharply denounce European governments that have recognized a Palestinian state, warning the move rewards Hamas terrorism and undermines peace.

“As if to encourage continued conflict, some of this body is seeking to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. The rewards would be too great for Hamas terrorists for their atrocities,” Trump told world leaders on Tuesday. “Instead of giving in to Hamas’s ransom demands, those who want peace should be united with one message: Release the hostages now.”

Hostages and Gaza Ceasefire

Trump repeated his demand for an immediate halt to fighting in Gaza and the unconditional return of all hostages. “We can’t get one or two; we need everyone, dead or alive,” he said, noting that 20 hostages remain alive in Gaza. He incorrectly claimed 38 bodies were still being held; Israel says the number is 28.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum welcomed Trump’s speech, urging him to push Israel and Hamas toward a comprehensive deal. “Time is running out. The time has come for actions, for a comprehensive agreement on the return of all 48 hostages and the end to the war in Gaza,” the group said in a statement.

Celebrations in Judea and Samaria

Trump’s criticism contrasted sharply with scenes of celebration across Judea and Samaria (also known as the West Bank), where Palestinians rallied after France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and other European nations recognized a Palestinian state this week.

In Ramallah, crowds waving Palestinian and European flags filled the central square, chanting nationalist slogans and holding posters of Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas. Senior Fatah official Jibril Rajoub hailed the recognitions as “the result of more than a century of resistance and determination by our people.”

Maysoon Mahmud, a Fatah member from Ramallah, said the recognitions marked a turning point: “We came here today to thank the countries that have recognized Palestine, but also to ask them to continue to support us in stopping the war.”

In Tulkarem and other towns, demonstrators carried the flags of countries now supporting Palestinian statehood, calling the move a long-overdue step toward international legitimacy.

Warning on Iran

Trump also reiterated his long-held stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions: “The world’s number one sponsor of terror cannot be allowed to possess the most dangerous weapon.”

Criticism of the UN

The U.S. president accused the UN of being ineffective, stating that it often resorts to symbolic statements.

“The U.N. has such tremendous potential. I’ve always said it. It has such tremendous, tremendous potential, but it’s not even coming close to living up to that potential for the most part,” Trump said.

“At least for now, all they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up. It’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve war.”

Trump’s Legacy

Reflecting on his prior time in office, Trump said: “Since my first address six years ago, the guns of war have shattered the peace that I forged. Four years of weakness, lawlessness, and radicalization have done that.”

Although he again mentioned his frequent calls for a Nobel Peace Prize, Trump insisted recognition was less important than impact. “The real prize will be the sons and daughters who live to grow up with the mothers and fathers, because millions of people are no longer being killed in endless and glorious wars. What I care about is not winning prizes, it’s saving lives.”

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