Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel delivered a highly confrontational speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday morning, where he staunchly defended his country’s military operations and reiterated his commitment to completing the campaign against Hamas. The address was met with significant protest as representatives from dozens of nations walked out just before he began, marking a notable international condemnation of Israel amid calls for an end to the conflict in Gaza.
Netanyahu rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state, declaring that Israelis would not commit ‘national suicide’ by allowing its creation. He openly criticized countries that have recently recognized Palestinian statehood, calling such actions ‘a mark of shame.’ Despite shouts from the audience, he detailed Israel’s actions against its adversaries, asserting that these had neutralized threats and reading aloud the names of hostages held in Gaza. In an unprecedented move, Israel deployed loudspeakers in Gaza to broadcast his speech, sending a direct message in both English and Hebrew to the captives: ‘We have not forgotten you.’ He also claimed that Israeli intelligence efforts were streaming his words live to cellphones in Gaza, though reporters on the ground found no evidence of this being widely heard.
The Prime Minister also accused world leaders of faltering in their support for Israel, stating they ‘buckled and caved when the going got tough.’ He maintained that Israel is engaged in a ‘seven-front war’ with minimal international backing, and is facing ‘political and legal warfare’ from its critics. Addressing accusations of war crimes and genocide, which he labeled as ‘antisemitic lies,’ Netanyahu insisted that Israel’s repeated evacuation orders for civilians in Gaza proved it was not committing genocide, rhetorically asking, ‘Did the Nazis ask the Jews to kindly leave, go out?’ He argued that Israel does ‘everything it can to get civilians out of harm’s way,’ a claim that draws sharp criticism from human rights groups, who view mass displacements as part of the alleged genocide. He is himself subject to an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, including the use of starvation as a weapon of war.
Regarding the humanitarian crisis, Netanyahu blamed Hamas for any hunger in Gaza, alleging the group had stolen UN aid, a claim disputed by some Israeli military officials and food security experts who report widespread famine. He reiterated that the conflict could end if Hamas agreed to Israel’s demands, including demilitarization, and directly warned Hamas fighters: ‘Free the hostages now. If you do, you will live. If you don’t, Israel will hunt you down.’
Earlier this week, approximately ten countries, including key allies like France, Britain, and Canada, formally recognized Palestinian statehood, pushing for a two-state resolution. In response, some factions within Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition advocated for the annexation of the West Bank. This stance, however, has set the Israeli leader at odds with President Trump, who assured Arab leaders that he would not permit such annexation. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Trump in Washington next Monday.
Amidst the diplomatic tensions, thousands of protesters gathered in New York City’s Times Square during Netanyahu’s speech, holding signs demanding an end to US aid to Israel, his arrest, and an immediate halt to the starvation in Gaza. They cheered news of the UN walkout, chanting, ‘Netanyahu you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide!’ These demonstrations follow a pattern of widespread protests against the Israeli government in major US cities, fueled by concerns over the extensive casualties and destruction in Gaza since the Hamas-led attack in October 2023. A recent poll indicated that a significant portion of New York City voters sympathize more with Palestinians than with Israel. Other related updates include concerns among Arab nations regarding their security after an Israeli airstrike in Qatar, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressing the UN via video to express willingness to take responsibility for Gaza without Hamas’s involvement, a role Netanyahu opposes.