Netanyahu denies Gaza genocide again, attacks West for Palestine recognition in UNGA speech

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu angrily addressed the United Nations’ General Assembly on Friday, where he lashed out against Western recognition of Palestine, justified the war in Gaza and denied genocide of the Palestinian people.

Before he began his speech, dozens of delegates staged a walkout in protest of his presence, as Netanyahu is wanted internationally by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Gaza, and for continuing to wage the war for almost two years.

Organisers at the assembly made several calls for order as members of Israel’s delegation and supporters applauded Netanyahu, disrupting the start of his session.

To commence his speech, the Israeli premier showed delegates the same map he brought out last year, labelling a number of Middle Eastern countries as 'The Curse' - notably Iran, the Gaza Strip and Houthi-controlled Yemen.

In his speech, Netanyahu launched a tirade against Western nations for formally recognising Palestine, accusing them of sending the message that "murdering Jews pays off".

"This week, the leaders of France, Britain, Australia, Canada and other countries unconditionally recognised a Palestinian state. They did so after the horrors committed by Hamas on October 7 - horrors praised on that day by nearly 90 percent of the Palestinian population."

"Over time, many world leaders buckled. They buckled under the pressure of a biased media, radical Islamist constituencies and antisemitic mobs. There's a familiar saying: 'When the going gets tough, the tough get going'. Well, for many countries here, when the going got tough, you caved," Netanyahu said in his rambling address to Western leaders.

"Israel will not allow you to shove a terrorist state down our throats," Netanyahu said, labelling the concept of a Palestinian state as "national suicide".

Before his rebuke of such countries, which he said are "appeasing evil," Netanyahu claimed that Western leaders who publicly condemn him for the war in Gaza "secretly thank him behind closed doors".

He then instructed the same countries to "unite against Jihadism," saying that "Israel is fighting their fight" and that both parties have "the same enemy".

He also denied that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, despite stark evidence pointing to such since the war began, and official acknowledgement of such by the UN last week.

During his speech, Netanyahu was seen sporting a QR code pin that links to footage of Hamas’ 7 October attack, after the Israeli PM accused most of the world "of no longer remembering" the events of that day.

In his speech, Netanyahu accused Iran of "threatening peace" in the region and seeking to destabilise the world, and bragged about the military operation against Tehran back in June, which targeted its nuclear programme and killed hundreds in the process.

Netanyahu also boasted about "hammering" the Houthis, "crushing the bulk" of Hamas and "crippling" Hezbollah after almost two years of Israeli attacks, which killed thousands and plunged the Middle East into crisis.

He also thanked US President Trump for his support of Israel’s actions, calling them "bold and decisive".

The Israeli premier further bragged about Israel’s so-called "stunning military comeback," and pledged to "finish the job as fast as possible" in Gaza, particularly in Gaza City, where Israel has launched an offensive with the aim of taking over the city.

The Israeli prime minister went on to speak "directly" to the remaining captives held in the enclave after he instructed the Israeli military to broadcast his speech via loudspeakers across Gaza.

According to Haaretz, the Israeli army had an unenthusiastic response to the order, but said it would follow through despite opposition.

Netanyahu then demanded that Hamas "lay down its arms" and "free his people". Around 48 captives remain in Gaza, with 20 still alive according to the Israeli military.

"If you do, you will live; if you don’t, Israel will hunt you down," he threatened. "If Hamas agrees to our demands, the war could end right now."

He also tore into the Palestinian Authority, calling it "corrupt to the core," and claimed that the entity "celebrates" the murder of Jews and Christians and teaches hateful rhetoric in its textbooks. He also accused them of paying people to "kill" Jewish individuals.

Later on, he called on Lebanon to "do more" to disarm Hezbollah, saying that "sustainable peace" was achievable with its Arab neighbours and expressed "hopes" to expand the controversial Abraham Accords.

Evading arrest

Prior to reaching New York, flight tracking websites showed Netanyahu strategically avoiding most of Europe’s airspace during his journey, lengthening it by at least 600  kilometres.

The flight tracker site showed that Netanyahu only flew over Greece and Italy’s airspace, and largely avoided France as the Israeli premier is wanted by the ICC for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out in Gaza.

The arrest warrant for Netanyahu, as well as then-Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, was issued in November last year.

Countries who are members of the ICC are obliged to comply with the warrant and arrest the Israeli leader should he set foot in one of the 125 member states’ territories.

His speech came as US president Donald Trump said that a deal to end the Gaza war was "near", which would see the return of captives held in Gaza.

Trump, on Thursday, had pledged that he will not allow Israel to annex the already-occupied West Bank – an ambition long-desired by far-right members of Netanyahu’s cabinet.

In a similar fashion last year, Netanyahu took to the UNGA podium to accuse the international community of "lying about and slandering” his country, which was almost one year into waging its war on the Palestinian territory.

He claimed that Israel has "always sought peace" and parroted false claims that Hamas carried out mass rapes and burned babies alive during the events of 7 October.

Israel’s military onslaught in Gaza has killed more than 65,500 Palestinians. An ongoing starvation campaign, deliberate targeting of aid seekers and an assault of Gaza City are crippling the enclave.