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Sept. 24 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden on Tuesday made his most forceful call yet for a cease-fire in Gaza and asserted the West would not tire of supporting Ukraine during his final United Nations General Assembly speech on Tuesday. In front of the annual gathering of world leaders in New York, Biden condemned Hamas for its initial attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and said that the Palestinian people deserved their own state without the influence of the militant group Hamas.
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Biden called on both Israel and Hamas to accept a cease-fire deal hammered out by the United States, Egypt and Qatar and endorsed by the United Nations Security Council.
"Now is the time for the parties to finalize its terms, bring the hostages home and ensure security for Israel and Gaza free of Hamas' grip, ease the suffering in Gaza and end this war," Biden said to applauds from the General Assembly.
The war in Gaza has gone on for nearly a year between Israel and Hamas with a potential new front opening up as new attacks along the Lebanese border with Israel.
In addressing the new fighting between Israel and Lebanon, Biden said a new full-scale war between the two countries is not in anyone's best interest and a diplomatic solution was possible.
Discussing Ukraine, Biden urged those supporting Kyiv in trying to defend itself against an invasion by Russia to keep up their resolve. In an impassioned plea, he said Kyiv's backers "cannot grow weary."
Biden said Russia and President Vladimir Putin failed at their core goal to destroy Ukraine but more than two years after the war started, the country remains free.
"He sat out to weaken NATO, but NATO is bigger, stronger and more united than ever with two new members in Finland and Sweden," Biden said. "We cannot let up. The world has another choice to make. Will we sustain our support and help Ukraine win this war preserve its freedom, or walk away ... and let it be destroyed? I know my answer."
Biden said the civil war in Sudan has now become the world's most pressing humanitarian crisis. Government forces and a major militia that once worked together to oust a dictator there are now fighting each other for control of the country.
"Eight million are on the brink of famine, and hundreds of thousands already there," Biden said. "The United States has led the world in providing humanitarian aid to Sudan and with our partners, we have led diplomatic talks to try to silence the guns and avert their famine.
"The world needs to stop arming the generals and speak with one voice and tell them to stop tearing your country apart. Stop blocking aid to the Sudanese people and end this war now."
Biden said the United States will uphold its principles as it "responsibly manages" its competition with China, the world's second-largest economy, so it does not grow into conflict. He added, however, that the United States will stand up for its interests and those of its allies.
"We stand ready to cooperate on urgent challenges for the good of our people and people everywhere," Biden said.
"In matters of conviction, the United States is unabashed in pushing back against unfair economic competition and against the military coercion of other countries in the South China Sea, and maintaining peace and stability along the Taiwan Strait, protecting our most advanced technologies so they cannot be used against us or any of our partners."
Biden called for United Nations leaders to work together and help lead reforms in the body's Security Council so it can be more effective.
"Our task, our test is to make sure that the forces that are holding us together are stronger than those that are pulling us apart," Biden said. "The principles of partnership that we came herewith can withhold and can withstand the challenges."
After his speech, Biden is expected to hold high-level meetings with a score of global leaders who will be in New York to take part in their speeches.
"This is one of the advantages of the U.N. General Assembly: You literally have the whole world here," an administration official said, according to CNBC. "So, when you do have crises of the day, they'll be addressed."
