Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday told the United Nations General Assembly that Israel has “crushed the bulk” of Hamas’s “terror machine” and pledged to finish the campaign “as fast as possible.”
Netanyahu highlighted what he described as major strategic victories over the past year, including efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program and the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon.
Rejecting allegations of genocide in Gaza, the Prime Minister said Israel was instead ensuring humanitarian aid reached Palestinians. “Those who peddle the blood libels of genocide against Israel are no better than those who peddled the blood libels against Jews in the Middle Ages,” he declared.
Netanyahu’s address was met with mixed reactions. While his supporters in the gallery applauded, many country delegations staged a mass walkout as he began his speech, forcing the assembly to call delegates to order.
What you should know
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his UN speech to defend Israel’s war in Gaza, deny genocide claims, and highlight recent military and strategic successes.
His remarks drew both applause and protest, underscoring the sharp divisions over Israel’s actions in the Middle East.
