Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant address to the United Nations General Assembly, defending Israel’s military actions and vowing to continue its campaign to ‘finish the job’ against Hamas. His speech was met with a walkout by dozens of countries protesting Israel’s war in Gaza. Netanyahu explicitly rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state, stating that Israelis ‘will not commit national suicide’ and condemned nations that recently recognized such a prospect, calling it a ‘mark of shame.’
Amidst shouts from the audience, Netanyahu detailed Israel’s operations against regional adversaries, claiming threats had been eliminated. He read aloud the names of hostages held in Gaza, asserting that his message, broadcast via loudspeakers into Gaza, was a promise: ‘We have not forgotten you.’ He criticized world leaders for ‘buckling and caving’ during Israel’s ‘seven-front war,’ accusing them of waging ‘political and legal warfare.’ Despite accusations of war crimes by the International Criminal Court, Netanyahu denied Israel was committing genocide, citing evacuation orders for civilians in Gaza as proof and dismissing the claims as ‘antisemitic lies.’ He also blamed Hamas for hunger in Gaza, alleging they stole UN aid, a claim disputed by some Israeli military officials and food security experts who report widespread famine.
Netanyahu asserted that Israel’s conflicts with Iran and its proxies had paved the way for new regional peace opportunities, pointing to a security agreement reportedly underway with Syria’s new government. He maintained that a Palestinian state would not be established west of the Jordan River, proudly stating he had ‘prevented the establishment of this terrorist state facing tremendous pressures at home and abroad.’ He also accused countries recognizing Palestinian statehood of sending an ‘antisemitic message: “Murdering Jews pays off.”‘ The Israeli mission to the UN noted that most of the remaining audience who applauded Netanyahu were his invited guests.
Meanwhile, hundreds protested outside in New York City during Netanyahu’s speech, with demonstrators in Times Square holding signs calling to ‘End All U.S. Aid to Israel,’ ‘Arrest Netanyahu,’ and ‘Stop Starving Gaza Now!’ The crowd cheered news of the diplomatic walkout, chanting, ‘Netanyahu you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide!’ Earlier protests also occurred upon his arrival in New York. These demonstrations reflect broader sentiment, with a recent poll indicating that in New York City, 44% of registered voters sympathized more with Palestinians, compared to 26% with Israel.
Here is what else to know:
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Arab anxiety: An Israeli airstrike targeting members of Hamas in Qatar fueled fears among Arab nations like Jordan and Egypt, raising concerns about their own security.
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Governing Gaza: Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, addressed the U.N. by video after he had been denied a visa to the United States. He said the authority, which administers part of the West Bank and governed in Gaza before Hamas took over in 2007, was willing to take responsibility for Gaza and that Hamas would have no part. Mr. Netanyahu objects to a role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza.
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Trump meeting: Mr. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Trump in Washington, marking their fourth encounter since the president began his second term in January.
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Circuitous Flight: Netanyahu flew an unusual, longer route to New York, avoiding French and Spanish airspace. Both countries are signatories to the Rome Statute, under which he faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes, and have criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza. French diplomats confirmed Israel had permission but chose to avoid their airspace.
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Deepening Isolation: A wave of countries, including traditional allies like Britain, Canada, Australia, France, and Portugal, formally recognized Palestinian statehood, further isolating Israel. This diplomatic pressure comes amidst the Gaza war, where over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed. Israel rejects accusations of war crimes and genocide, but many Israelis are becoming wary of international travel due to potential legal action.
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Trump’s Stance on West Bank: President Trump assured Arab and Muslim-majority leaders that he would not permit Israel to annex the West Bank, despite calls from Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition for such action. This contradicts Netanyahu’s stated opposition to a Palestinian state ‘west of the Jordan River.’