Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to “complete the mission” in Gaza, vehemently rejecting the idea of recognizing a Palestinian state as “absurd,” even as numerous delegations exited the United Nations assembly during his speech.
In the wake of several nations-including the UK, France, Canada, and Australia-breaking ranks with the United States to acknowledge Palestinian sovereignty, Netanyahu dismissed the two-state solution as “utterly irrational. It’s madness, and we will not entertain it.”
He likened granting Palestinians a state near Jerusalem after the events of October 7 to “handing al-Qaeda a state a stone’s throw from New York City after 9/11.” Currently, 157 out of 193 UN member countries officially recognize Palestine as an independent nation.
According to the Washington Post, over 100 diplomats representing more than 50 countries exited the hall as Netanyahu took the stage.
Netanyahu’s address came shortly after former US President Donald Trump declared he would prevent Israel from annexing parts of the West Bank in response to the growing international support for Palestinian statehood. “Annexation of the West Bank will not happen,” Trump asserted.
Some of Netanyahu’s right-wing supporters have proposed annexing as much as 82% of the West Bank, territory currently under the Palestinian Authority’s administration. UK officials have expressed apprehension that the US might back this plan.
However, Netanyahu refrained from addressing the annexation proposal during his speech, with his office stating that he would comment only after a scheduled meeting with Trump at the White House on Monday. He criticized the UK, France, and other nations that recognized Palestine, stating, “You didn’t just make a mistake-you made a grave error.”
He warned, “This shameful decision will fuel terrorism against Jewish people and innocent civilians worldwide.”
Throughout his speech, Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to intensifying military operations in Gaza City, despite widespread international criticism that such actions exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court have condemned these operations as potential war crimes.
He stated, “The last pockets of Hamas fighters are entrenched in Gaza City,” emphasizing that Israel “must complete the mission” to prevent repeated attacks like those on October 7 “over and over again.”
“This is why we aim to act swiftly,” he added.
Marking the 80th anniversary of the UN General Assembly, Netanyahu denied allegations of genocide in Gaza, arguing, “Would a nation committing genocide urge the civilian population it targets to evacuate to safety?”
The speech was notably contentious and delivered to a sparsely populated chamber, which can seat 1,800 attendees. Reports indicated that delegations from the US and UK, who remained present, were staffed primarily by junior diplomats rather than senior officials.
Netanyahu claimed that while foreign leaders publicly criticize Israel, they privately express gratitude for its intelligence services, which have repeatedly thwarted terrorist attacks in their capitals. He did not specify which countries had conveyed such private thanks.
Outside the UN, thousands gathered in protest, including a major demonstration in Times Square, New York City.
Netanyahu also issued a stark warning to the remaining Hamas leadership, whose forces have been severely diminished since Israel’s invasion of Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attacks.
“Disarm yourselves,” he demanded. “Release my people. Free all 48 hostages immediately.”
“If you comply, you will survive. If not, Israel will relentlessly pursue you,” he cautioned.
The address incorporated various media tactics, including being broadcast over loudspeakers in Gaza. Netanyahu’s office also claimed the speech was transmitted via phones in Gaza, allegedly accessed by Israeli intelligence, though Associated Press journalists on the ground reported no evidence of such broadcasts.
Additionally, Netanyahu used visual aids, such as a QR code displayed during his speech, which linked to footage of the Hamas attacks on October 7.
