Netanyahu attacks Palestinian recognition as UN Delegates Walk Out In Protest

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a confrontational address at the United Nations General Assembly, condemning the recognition of a Palestinian state by several Western nations. He branded this recognition as a 'mark of shame', asserting that it suggested that 'murdering Jews pays off'.

In a striking moment, dozens of diplomats and officials walked out of the assembly as Netanyahu began his speech, resulting in visible emptiness in parts of the conference hall. Concurrently, protesters opposing Israel's military actions in Gaza gathered outside in Times Square.

Recent weeks have seen Israel face increasing global pressure due to its military operations in Gaza. This culminated in formal recognitions of Palestinian statehood by countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Australia.

In his opening statements, Netanyahu showcased a map he referred to as 'The Curse', which he claimed illustrated Iranian proxy forces operative in the Middle East. He highlighted Israeli military actions throughout the preceding year against groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

Netanyahu thanked former U.S. President Donald Trump for American involvement in military actions against Iran's Fordo nuclear facility, drawing parallels between Hamas’s attacks on Israel and the tragic events of 9/11 in the United States. He contended that both nations face similar adversaries, citing hostile sentiments expressed by Iranian-affiliated groups.

The Israeli Prime Minister also reiterated Israel's longstanding opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state, claiming that this position is widely supported by the Israeli populace. He disputed findings from a United Nations commission that accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, calling the allegations 'baseless'.

In addition, Netanyahu rejected claims from various United Nations agencies alleging systemic restrictions imposed by Israel on humanitarian aid entering Gaza. Earlier this month, a UN-backed organisation reported that conditions in Gaza City had reached a famine status.

Prior to addressing the General Assembly, Netanyahu's office instructed the Israeli military to set up loudspeakers on trucks circulating near the Gaza perimeter to broadcast his comments live. He also claimed that Israeli intelligence had hacked into smartphones in Gaza to directly stream his speech. However, BBC sources in the territory reported no impact on local devices.

In his address intended for Israeli hostages held by Hamas, Netanyahu asserted, 'This is Prime Minister Netanyahu speaking to you live from the United Nations. We have not forgotten you, not even for a second.' Currently, 48 hostages are believed to be held in Gaza, with 20 thought to be alive.

A Gaza resident expressed frustration to the BBC World Service, questioning the motivation behind broadcasting the speech forcibly and describing it as a means of further humiliating the affected civilians.

Towards the conclusion of his speech, Netanyahu addressed neighbouring countries, indicating that Israel was nearing a de-escalation agreement with Syria. He urged the Lebanese government to act decisively against Hezbollah.

Upon his return to Israel, Netanyahu faced critical responses from opposition figures. Yair Lapid, the opposition leader, described the PM's speech as weary and filled with clichés, stating, 'Instead of stopping the diplomatic tsunami, Netanyahu today worsened the situation for Israel.'

Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, labelled the speech as 'childish' and expressed concerns over the loudspeaker incident, calling it a propaganda stunt.

In contrast, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas had addressed the General Assembly a day earlier, expressing his willingness to collaborate with international leaders on a peace initiative between Israel and Palestine.

Following Netanyahu's remarks, Donald Trump communicated to journalists that there appeared to be a potential agreement regarding Gaza. However, he refrained from offering any specific details, leading to speculation about an imminent ceasefire.

Since the onset of the ongoing conflict nearly two years ago, Israel has restricted independent journalistic access to the Gaza Strip, complicating the verification of claims from both sides. While some journalists have been granted controlled access by the Israeli Defence Forces, the full scope of events remains challenging to ascertain.

The Israeli military campaign in Gaza was initiated in response to a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, claiming approximately 1,200 lives and resulting in the abduction of 251 individuals. According to the health ministry managed by Hamas, over 65,549 people have died in Gaza as a consequence of Israeli operations since then.