Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a fiery address at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, lashing out at recent decisions by several Western nations to formally recognise a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu described the recognition as a “mark of shame” that signalled to the world that “murdering Jews pays off.” His comments prompted dozens of officials and diplomats to stage a walkout, leaving vast sections of the Assembly hall empty. Outside, large crowds of protesters against Israel’s war in Gaza gathered in New York’s Times Square.
The backlash comes after the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia and other nations formally recognised Palestine this week, intensifying international pressure on Israel over its military campaign in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s Combative Address
Opening his speech, Netanyahu displayed a map labelled “The Curse”, which he said illustrated Iran’s network of proxy groups across the Middle East. He cited Israel’s military operations over the past year against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza and Iran itself.
The Israeli leader went on to thank former US President Donald Trump for American involvement in bombing Iran’s Fordo nuclear site in June, drawing parallels between Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and the September 11 attacks in the US. “We are fighting the same enemies,” he said, pointing to anti-American and anti-Israel slogans chanted by Iran-backed groups.
Netanyahu doubled down on his long-held rejection of Palestinian statehood, insisting that the “vast majority of Israelis” oppose such a move. He dismissed the findings of a UN commission that accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, branding the claims “baseless.”
He also rejected reports from multiple UN agencies that Israel has deliberately restricted aid deliveries into Gaza, despite a UN-backed body confirming famine conditions in parts of the enclave in August.
Controversial Messaging Tactics
In a controversial move, Netanyahu’s office ordered the Israeli military to mount loudspeakers along the Gaza border to broadcast his UN speech live into the territory. He also claimed Israeli intelligence had hacked smartphones in Gaza to stream his words directly—a claim not confirmed by residents or independent sources.
Addressing the 48 remaining hostages in Gaza, Netanyahu declared: “We have not forgotten you, not even for a second. The people of Israel are with you. We will not falter, and we will not rest until we bring all of you home.”
Critics in Israel swiftly condemned the spectacle. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu’s address reflected a “weary and whining” leader who relied on “overused gimmicks.” Yair Golan, head of the Democrats party, blasted the loudspeaker stunt as “invalid, childish, and insane.”
Calls for Peace and International Reactions
Netanyahu’s speech contrasted sharply with remarks from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas a day earlier. Abbas told world leaders he was ready to work on implementing a peace plan with Israel, urging global cooperation to end the decades-long conflict.
Meanwhile, former US President Trump, speaking separately after Netanyahu’s speech, claimed, “I think we have a deal on Gaza,” though he provided no details.
Human Toll of the War
Israel’s war in Gaza began in response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage. Since then, at least 65,549 people have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.
With independent journalists barred from freely entering Gaza, verifying figures and claims from either side remains difficult.
As the conflict grinds on, the recognition of Palestine by major Western nations has added new diplomatic momentum to calls for a political solution—yet Netanyahu’s defiant UN appearance underscored just how far apart the parties remain.
Source – My News Ghana
About the Author
