Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant address to the U.N. General Assembly on Friday, vowing that Israel “must finish the job” against Hamas in Gaza, even as his government faces unprecedented international isolation and mounting war crimes accusations.
Dozens of delegates walked out of the hall before his speech, while others shouted protests. The U.S. delegationremained in place, though it was represented only by lower-level diplomats rather than senior officials or the ambassador.
Wearing a special pin symbolizing the October 7 hostage crisis, Netanyahu held up a large map titled “THE CURSE” and praised former U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him his chief ally. He also announced an “unprecedented operation” in which the Israeli army would broadcast his speech directly onto the mobile phones of Gaza residents, as well as via loudspeakers placed on the Israeli border.
Netanyahu’s remarks came as Australia, Canada, France, the U.K. and other nations formally recognized a Palestinian state, while the EU considers sanctions and tariffs against Israel. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu on charges of crimes against humanity, while the International Court of Justice is weighing South Africa’s allegation of genocide in Gaza—both of which Israel rejects.
The conflict, triggered by Hamas’ October 2023 attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis and saw 251 taken hostage, has since killed over 65,000 Palestinians and displaced 90% of Gaza’s population, according to U.N. figures.
On Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the Assembly via video, urging stronger international action to deliver Palestinian statehood. “The time has come for the international community to do right by the Palestinian people,” Abbas said.
Netanyahu, however, dismissed a two-state solution, calling it a reward for Hamas. “This will not happen,” he declared before leaving Israel for New York.
