In a defiant speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told fellow world leaders that Israel “must finish the job” against Hamas in Gaza, despite growing international isolation over the devastating war.
The speech was met with widespread criticism, with many delegates walking out of the assembly hall in protest.
Netanyahu accused Western leaders of buckling under pressure, saying, “Western leaders may have buckled under the pressure… And I guarantee you one thing: Israel won’t.”
He also criticized countries that have recently recognized Palestinian statehood, warning that such decisions would “encourage terrorism against Jews and against innocent people everywhere”.
The assembly was visibly divided, with applause ringing out in some quarters while unintelligible shouts echoed through the hall.
The US delegation, a key ally of Israel, remained seated during Netanyahu’s speech, while other world powers, including the UK, were represented by junior diplomats rather than their most senior officials.
Netanyahu also accused his critics of anti-Semitism, stating that “anti-Semitism dies hard. In fact, it doesn’t die at all.”
This rhetoric is consistent with his past speeches, where he has often linked criticism of Israel to anti-Semitism.
The conflict in Gaza has significant implications for global politics, with many countries calling for a ceasefire and a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Netanyahu’s speech suggests that Israel is unlikely to bend to international pressure, setting the stage for continued conflict in the region.
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