Netanyahu UN Speech Defies Palestinian Statehood, Blames Europe for ‘Rewarding Hamas:

Israeli Prime Minister{ Benjamin Netanyahu UN speech} delivered a fiery and defiant speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, vowing to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state and sharply criticizing Western nations for recognizing Palestine. His remarks have sparked global controversy, with walkouts from several delegations and large-scale protests erupting in New York City. In a speech partially broadcast over Israeli military loudspeakers in Gaza, Netanyahu declared, “We will not allow you to shove a terrorist state down our throats.” The Israeli leader directly accused European powers — including France and the UK — of endangering Israel’s survival by recognizing a Palestinian state just days earlier. “They have sent a very clear message that murdering Jews pays off,” Netanyahu said, referring to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that left over 1,200 Israelis dead. “We will not commit national suicide because you don’t have the guts to face down the hostile media and antisemitic mobs demanding Israel’s blood.” Despite ongoing efforts led by former U.S. President Donald Trump to broker a ceasefire deal in Gaza, Netanyahu doubled down on Israel’s military campaign, vowing to “finish the job” against Hamas. “We have not forgotten the hostages — not even for a second,” he said in Hebrew, addressing those still held captive in Gaza since the 2023 attack. Trump, speaking shortly after Netanyahu, remained optimistic. “I think we have a deal,” he said, suggesting progress in ceasefire negotiations that would require Hamas to disarm. Notably absent from Netanyahu’s address was any mention of West Bank annexation, a topic pushed by members of his right-wing coalition but strongly opposed by Trump. Still, Netanyahu used his speech to ridicule the Palestinian Authority (PA) and its president, Mahmoud Abbas, calling the PA “corrupt to the core.” Abbas, who condemned both the Hamas attack and antisemitism in his own virtual speech on Thursday, was denied a U.S. visa and could not attend in person. His condemnation did little to spare him from Netanyahu’s ire, who dismissed Western support for the Palestinian Authority as naïve. Netanyahu’s trip to New York was shadowed by legal and diplomatic troubles. Facing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for alleged war crimes — including the use of starvation as a weapon in Gaza — he took an unusual flight path to avoid European airspace, including a narrow route over the Strait of Gibraltar. His arrival at the UN was met with a mix of applause and protest. Several nations walked out in protest as he approached the podium, while outside in Times Square, demonstrators called for his arrest. “War criminals don’t deserve any peace of mind,” said Andrea Mirez, one of the protest organizers. Inside the chamber, Netanyahu defended Israel’s military actions, insisting they complied with international law. He argued that Israel had warned civilians with leaflets and blamed Hamas for operating among them. However, international human rights groups and the United Nations have warned that forced displacement of civilians — nearly the entire population of Gaza — could also amount to a war crime. Since the start of Israel’s Gaza offensive, over 65,500 Palestinians — mostly civilians — have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The figures are considered reliable by the UN. In a dramatic moment during his address, Netanyahu held up a map of West Asia and used a pen to cross out the names of leaders and countries he claimed Israel had defeated or neutralized. Iran, whose nuclear sites Israel bombed earlier this year, boycotted the speech and placed photos of over 1,000 bombing victims on their delegation’s table. As Netanyahu prepares to meet with Trump in Washington on Monday, the future of any peace deal remains uncertain — but one thing is clear: tensions in the Middle East are reaching a boiling point once again.

NEWS