On April 16, 2026, the United Nations General Assembly convened a plenary meeting on the ‘use of veto’ addressing the escalating crisis in the Middle East, a region Ambassador Paul Beresford-Hill, Permanent Observer of the Sovereign Order of Malta, described as the spiritual home to over half the world’s population. Addressing the Assembly, the Ambassador warned that the conflict does not exist in a vacuum but sends shockwaves across the globe, threatening the social and economic fabric of every continent. He specifically highlighted the “contagion” of conflict currently straining the religious and social balance of the Levant, most acutely in Lebanon, where mass displacement and institutional pressure risk a wider, uncontrolled conflagration.
The Order’s statement drew urgent attention to the logistical foundations of global survival, noting that the paralysis of vital maritime routes like the Strait of Hormuz is more than a commercial risk; it is a direct threat to the humanitarian supply chains that provide energy, fertilizer, and food to Africa and Asia. Ambassador Beresford-Hill emphasized that upholding freedom of navigation under international law is a prerequisite for protecting the most vulnerable populations who are already bearing the brunt of rising food insecurity.
As a neutral and impartial humanitarian actor, the Sovereign Order of Malta continues its mission on the ground through Malteser International and its national associations, maintaining a sustained presence in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. The Ambassador offered a poignant tribute to humanitarian workers who risk their lives in service, specifically honoring the memory of Chadi Ammar, an Order of Malta Lebanon staff member, and Hassan Badawi, a Lebanese Red Cross paramedic, both recently killed in the line of duty. He stressed that the protection of aid workers must remain absolute, noting it is a tragic indictment of the international community when those who carry no weapons must pay for their compassion with their lives.
Concluding his address, Ambassador Beresford-Hill reminded the General Assembly that respect for International Humanitarian Law and the right to worship are non-negotiable principles that must never become collateral to conflict. Drawing on the words of Pope Leo, he noted that while nothing is lost with peace, everything can be lost with war. The Sovereign Order of Malta remains steadfast in its hope that current cease-fire efforts will be maintained through respectful dialogue, urging the international community to choose the path of negotiation over the cycle of destruction.
