Netanyahu broadcasts UN speech into Gaza, accusing world leaders of appeasing 'evil'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his United Nations General Assembly address to project a message directly into Gaza, claiming a new ability to reach hostages and Gazans via loudspeakers and cellphone streams. He told the assembly that he wanted to speak to the 20 living hostages held by Hamas and described an audacious plan to broadcast his remarks across the border and into the territory. "I want to do something I've never done before. I want to speak from this forum directly to those hostages through loudspeakers. I've surrounded Gaza with massive loudspeakers connected to this microphone, in the hope that our dear hostages will hear my message," Netanyahu said. His office subsequently said the speech was played from the Israeli side of the border and carried into Gaza through cellphone networks.

The revelation prompted immediate questions about the practicality and risks of such an operation. Reports from Israel's Channel 12 said the Israeli Defense Forces had been ordered to set up speakers inside the Gaza Strip, contrary to the border-based account. Opponents quickly challenged the plan. "To Netanyahu's regret, he is not Kim Jong-un, and the Israeli army does not need to broadcast the ruler's speeches over loudspeakers while endangering soldiers in the field," said opposition leader Yair Lapid on X. Families of soldiers serving in Gaza issued a joint statement accusing the government of lying and warning that the loudspeakers were placed inside Gaza, endangering their children "for the sake of a so-called public diplomacy campaign to preserve his rule."

Amid mounting international pressure over the Gaza campaign, Netanyahu’s appearance at the UN came as the United Nations pressed for a two-state solution and as Israel faced unprecedented international criticism. Dozens of U.N. delegates rose and walked out of the General Assembly hall as Netanyahu spoke. After the walkout, the chamber featured more empty seats than engaged attendees. In a separate development, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was scheduled to address the U.N. remotely on Thursday following a visa clash with the United States, and his remarks drew a brief round of applause.

Netanyahu used the address to castigate nations that have recognized a Palestinian state, saying, "This is not an indictment of Israel. It’s an indictment of you. It’s an indictment of weakness. Leaders who appease evil rather than support a nation whose brave soldiers guard you from the barbarians at the gate." He argued that any move toward a Palestinian state near Jerusalem would be unacceptable, likening it to granting Al Qaeda a state near New York after Sept. 11. "What you’re doing is giving the ultimate reward to intolerant fanatics who perpetrated and supported the October 7th massacre," he said, referring to Hamas’ attacks last fall.

The prime minister also pointed to a broader military campaign against Iran and Hezbollah, saying, "Remember those beepers? The pagers? We paged Hezbollah... and believe me, they got the message." Pagers once used by Hezbollah members exploded in Lebanon last year, an event Netanyahu invoked to illustrate a broader regional deterrence message.

Netanyahu’s appearance occurred against a backdrop of a complex diplomatic landscape. The ICC has an arrest warrant pending against him since November 2024, complicating his international travel and inviting scrutiny of his wartime decisions. The United States, which does not recognize ICC warrants, placed travel restrictions on Palestinian leaders and avoided certain destinations that could trigger arrest implications. To reach New York without running afoul of ICC member states, Netanyahu took a circuitous route that bypassed the airspaces of Spain and France, both signatories to the Rome Statute.

New York’s hall was tense as the UN grappled with ongoing violence in Gaza and renewed calls for a ceasefire and a two-state framework. In the same week, former U.S. President Donald Trump signaled he would not support annexation of the West Bank, even as his administration floated a 21-point plan aimed at ending the Gaza war, centered on securing the release of remaining hostages and a ceasefire.

Netanyahu also used the UN stage to reference Iran and its nuclear ambitions, asserting that Tehran must not be allowed to rebuild its military nuclear capacity and that the stockpiles of enriched uranium must be eliminated. The speech underscored a broader strategy of escalating pressure on Israel’s adversaries while seeking to shore up international support for its wartime actions.

The UN session unfolded as the world’s body weighed a range of responses to the Gaza crisis, including renewed emphasis on a two-state solution. While some nations argued for negotiations and a path to Palestinian statehood, others aligned with Netanyahu’s stance on security and regional deterrence. The event highlighted the stark divergence in international opinion and the risks that accompany high-profile diplomacy during a period of acute hostilities.

As Netanyahu concluded his address, questions persisted about the messaging’s effectiveness and the potential ramifications for civilians in Gaza. The interplay between public diplomacy, military operations, and international law remained at the forefront of discussions among diplomats, human rights advocates, and political leaders. The unfolding narrative at the UN—comprising hostages, alleged cross-border broadcasting, and shifting alliances—illustrated the difficulty of aligning military objectives with a coherent global strategy amid a deeply polarized regional conflict.