As over 140 world leaders prepare to converge at the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan for the General Assembly, security efforts have intensified to safeguard the event, classified as a National Special Security Event. Beneath the towering UN building, a command center buzzes with activity. Monitors illuminate the room, displaying feeds from over 1,400 live security cameras, tracking door alarms, and updating emergency alerts. Behind the scenes, computers update constantly, monitoring who swipes their badges at the various checkpoints.
This year’s General Assembly poses a particularly challenging task, coming in the midst of a U.S. presidential election. Multiple candidates, alongside President Joe Biden, require Secret Service protection, adding another layer of complexity to the security plan.
The assembly also marks the first major global diplomatic gathering since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, sparking an intense Israeli military campaign in Gaza. The conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives, has ignited widespread debate, protests, and demonstrations, both in the U.S. and globally.
Against this backdrop, New York City becomes the epicenter of international diplomacy, as hundreds of diplomats gather for critical discussions and negotiations at the UN and in other key locations across the city.
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