Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is poised to address the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, September 26, 2025. This highly anticipated speech comes at a critical juncture, with Netanyahu facing increasing international isolation, severe accusations of war crimes, and mounting pressure to de-escalate the ongoing conflict in Gaza. His annual addresses to the UN are typically met with close scrutiny and protests, often serving as a platform for strong declarations, but the current circumstances elevate the stakes significantly.
The global landscape has shifted dramatically in recent days. Several nations, including Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom, have formally recognized an independent Palestinian state. Simultaneously, the European Union is considering implementing tariffs and sanctions against Israel. Earlier this month, the General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution that called on Israel to commit to an independent Palestinian nation, a proposal Netanyahu has firmly rejected. Furthermore, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on charges of war crimes, which he vehemently denies. Adding to the legal pressure, the UN’s highest court is currently reviewing South Africa’s grave allegation that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza—an accusation Israel strongly refutes.
Despite these immense pressures, Netanyahu appeared steadfast as he departed Israel for the UN meeting in New York on Thursday, September 25, 2025. He stated his intention to “tell our truth” and “condemn those leaders who, instead of condemning the murderers, rapists and burners of children, want to give them a state in the heart of Israel.”
Opposition to Netanyahu’s approach is growing
During a special assembly session this week, numerous countries voiced their horror over the 2023 Hamas militant attack, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken in Israel, igniting the current conflict. Many delegates subsequently urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a significant increase in humanitarian aid. Israel’s extensive military offensive has since led to the deaths of over 65,000 Palestinians in Gaza, displaced 90% of its population, and left a growing number facing starvation.
While over 150 nations now acknowledge a Palestinian state, the United States continues to offer Israel robust support. However, President Donald Trump subtly indicated limits to this support on Thursday, informing reporters in Washington that he would not permit Israel to annex the occupied West Bank. Although Israel has not officially declared such a move, prominent members of Netanyahu’s government have openly advocated for it. Recently, officials approved a contentious settlement project that critics argue could sever the West Bank in two, potentially jeopardizing the prospect of a Palestinian state. Trump and Netanyahu are scheduled to meet during his visit.
Palestinians had their UN say the day before
On Thursday, September 25, 2025, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas addressed the General Assembly via video, a necessity due to the U.S. denying him a visa. He expressed appreciation for the international recognitions of a Palestinian state but emphasized the global community’s need to take further action to realize this statehood. Abbas declared that “the time has come for the international community to do right by the Palestinian people” and help them achieve “their legitimate rights to be rid of the occupation and to not remain a hostage to the temperament of Israeli politics.”
Abbas leads the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank. Hamas gained control of Gaza from Abbas’ forces in 2007, following legislative elections in 2006. Israel, having captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war and subsequently withdrawn from Gaza in 2005, faces international consensus for a “two-state solution” where these three territories form the envisioned Palestinian state. Netanyahu, however, firmly opposes this, asserting that creating a Palestinian state would be a reward for Hamas. “This will not happen,” he declared at the airport on Thursday.