In a defiant address at the United Nations in New York on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu firmly rejected the notion of a Palestinian state. He labeled the recognition of Palestine by over 150 nations as ‘disgraceful’ and reiterated his pledge to ‘finish the job’ against Hamas amidst the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu’s long-standing opposition to Palestinian statehood was delivered before a largely deserted UN hall, a stark visual representation of Israel’s increasing diplomatic isolation. This speech unfolded during a particularly fraught period, as Israel faces escalating international criticism over its brutal military campaign in Gaza. Key Western allies, including Britain, France, and Canada, have recently chosen to recognize Palestine, a significant shift after years of previous abstention.
Addressing the few present, Netanyahu declared, ‘Israel will not allow you to shove a terror state down our throats.’ He asserted that an independent Palestine would be ‘national suicide’ for Israel, a ‘mark of shame’ for the many UN member states that have supported its recognition.
Notably, the United States remains the only member of the UN Security Council that has yet to recognize Palestine as an independent state.
An image shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing a sparse, mostly empty United Nations hall on Friday, highlighting his nation’s diplomatic isolation.
Netanyahu’s address kicked off Friday’s UN General Assembly session, but it was met with a conspicuous absence of global leaders. Many delegates either hadn’t arrived, were actively boycotting, or simply walked out as he began to speak. The sight of the Israeli prime minister receiving applause largely from his own small delegation served as a potent symbol of concern among some Israelis that their nation is increasingly becoming a pariah on the world stage.
Adding a layer of intrigue to his visit, Netanyahu’s flight from Israel to New York took an exceptionally circuitous path. Flight tracking data revealed he deliberately bypassed the airspace of two European nations known for their strong criticism of Israel’s actions in the Gaza war.
While his office offered no official explanation for the extended flight, the reason became clear: Netanyahu is currently facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes linked to the Gaza conflict. Both France and Spain, the countries he skirted, are signatories to the Rome Statute, the treaty that founded the ICC. Landing in their territory could have led to his arrest. Neither the United States nor Israel are parties to this treaty.
Even though Israeli authorities reportedly secured permission to traverse French airspace, a French diplomat confirmed anonymously that Netanyahu appeared to be leaving nothing to chance, opting for the longer, safer route.
Outside the United Nations on Friday, hundreds of protesters marched, vehemently condemning the ongoing war in Gaza.
Concurrent with Netanyahu’s speech, hundreds of demonstrators filled the streets of New York City, passionately protesting the Gaza war. Approaching its second anniversary, this conflict has caused immense destruction and a staggering death toll, with Gaza health officials reporting over 65,000 casualties, including both civilians and combatants. The sheer scale of devastation, with most structures damaged or destroyed and widespread hunger, has appalled even Israel’s staunchest allies.
Netanyahu argued that ‘much of the world no longer remembers Oct. 7,’ referring to the brutal Hamas-led attack on Israel that claimed 1,200 lives and ignited the Gaza war. ‘But we remember,’ he asserted, reminding the audience that 48 hostages, from the initial 250+ taken, were still held in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive.
He then solemnly read the names of the 20 hostages believed to still be alive, declaring that the war could cease immediately if Hamas would simply agree to Israel’s terms: release all hostages, disarm, and surrender any remaining control over the territory.
Throughout his roughly 40-minute address, Netanyahu maintained an unyielding and defiant tone. He vowed that Israel would relentlessly ‘hunt down’ its adversaries, portraying them as elements within a larger, Iran-orchestrated network. He then detailed various Israeli attacks against enemies across Iran, Lebanon, and Yemen throughout the preceding year.
With a touch of dark humor, he referenced a covert Israeli operation from a year prior, where thousands of exploding pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah militants in Lebanon were detonated. This audacious act resulted in dozens of deaths and numerous injuries.
“You remember those beepers, those pagers?” Netanyahu quipped. “We paged Hezbollah and, believe me, they got the message loud and clear.”
Regarding Gaza, Netanyahu insisted that Israel was undertaking ‘everything it can to get civilians out of harm’s way.’ He flatly rejected the genocide charges leveled against his nation at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, accusations that had been supported by a United Nations commission just weeks prior.
Netanyahu offered Israel’s evacuation orders for Gaza civilians as proof against the genocide claims, provocatively asking, ‘Did the Nazis ask the Jews to kindly leave, go out?’
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas delivered his UN address via video link on Thursday.
However, human rights organizations and experts contend that mass displacement is frequently an indicator of genocide, not a defense against it. As early as July, B’Tselem, a prominent Israeli rights group, characterized the displacement in Gaza as part of ‘coordinated action to intentionally destroy Palestinian society,’ asserting it constituted genocide.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, in his own UN address the previous day, accused Israel of genocide and war crimes. Speaking via video link after being denied a U.S. visa for an in-person appearance, Abbas also condemned the October 7th attack and emphasized that Hamas would play no part in the governance of a future Palestinian state.
Members of Netanyahu’s right-wing government have openly advocated for the annexation of all or part of the occupied West Bank, widely considered the heartland of a future Palestinian state, as well as Gaza. This hawkish stance has been a significant point of contention among Arab leaders at the General Assembly, who strongly oppose any annexation.
Even Israel’s staunchest ally, President Trump, weighed in from the Oval Office on Thursday, stating emphatically, ‘I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank.’ Trump, keen to conclude the Gaza war and claim a peace achievement, added, ‘There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.’
Interestingly, Netanyahu made no mention of annexation during his speech, despite being scheduled to meet with President Trump at the White House the following Monday.
The day before, Mr. Abbas had powerfully declared, ‘Palestine is ours.’
Additional reporting for this article was provided by Farnaz Fassihi, Andy Newman, Adam Rasgon, and Olivia Bensimon.