New York, Sept 20: To prevent the proliferation of conflicts and the sense of impunity across the globe, world leaders will descend on the United Nations' New York headquarters from Sunday for the organisation's annual signature gathering, set against an explosive backdrop of raging wars, growing populism, and diplomatic deadlock.
The war in Gaza, escalating tensions in the Middle East, famine conditions in Sudan's civil war, and the grinding conflict in Ukraine are among the contentious issues on the agenda for the presidents and prime ministers attending the General Assembly's high-level week - the UN's showpiece event.
Ahead of the events, a security ring of steel was being erected around the UN's riverfront headquarters, while local residents and businesses braced for traffic paralysis caused by the endless VIP motorcades and street closures.
World leaders, including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are expected to attend to adopt a pact on how to address the most pressing issues moving forward.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, calling on leaders to show "courage," has seen the draft text criticised by observers for lacking ambition.
"One of the risks, and it's more than a risk, is that the Summit of the Future may resemble the summit of the past, or at best, the summit of the present," said one diplomat.
Guterres insists the summit has value, stating that "international challenges are moving faster than our ability to solve them."
"We are witnessing out-of-control geopolitical divisions and runaway conflicts, not least in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and beyond, runaway climate change, and runaway inequalities... our institutions simply cannot keep up," he said.
The ICRC's UN representative, Laetitia Courtois, emphasised the need to address conflict "right now," rather than leaving it as "an objective for the next generation."
However, Guterres maintained this week that the world can avoid "moving towards World War Three."
"What we are witnessing is a multiplication of conflicts and a sense of impunity," Guterres said in a briefing.
The gathering "could not come at a more critical and challenging moment," said Washington's UN envoy, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
"The list of crises and conflicts demanding attention and action continues to grow... it's easy to fall into cynicism.
"But we cannot afford to do that."
With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Iran's new President Masoud Pezeshkian set to attend, "Gaza will undoubtedly be the most prominent conflict discussed," said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group.
He suggested that the diplomatic speeches and posturing would "not make a significant difference to events on the ground."
The war in Gaza began after Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October, which led to the deaths of more than 1,200 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
More than 41,272 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's military campaign in Gaza since the war began, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The UN has acknowledged these figures as reliable.
Fears are growing that the conflict could spill over into Lebanon, where a series of deadly explosions apparently targeted Hezbollah's communications this week. Israel has yet to comment.
The action in New York begins on Sunday with a "Summit of the Future," Guterres's flagship effort to get ahead of challenges facing the world in the coming years.
- Tackle War 'Right Now' -
The summit will be followed by the high-level week, during which the UN's 193 members will address one another, starting with Brazil.
This will be followed by the United States, with President Joe Biden expected to speak, likely on ceasefire talks in Gaza, among other issues.
The leaders of China and Russia will be absent, as in previous years, but Britain's Keir Starmer, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, and Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be present.
Zelensky, who was the star attraction in 2023, may struggle to stay in the spotlight this year as he presents his "plan for victory," according to one diplomat.
