Netanyahu defiant UN address frames international push to Gaza deal

Netanyahu delivered a defiant address to the United Nations on Friday, telling world leaders that Israel cannot be forced to destroy itself by accepting a Palestinian state. "You will not shove a Palestinian state down our throats. We will not commit national suicide because you are weak." The prime minister's remarks came as the hall in New York appeared largely empty and as many observers suggested the international body has grown distant from Israel's security priorities amid the Gaza war.

The speech arrived at a moment of intense international attention on efforts to end the Gaza conflict. While aides discuss a possible deal in Washington, President Trump has signaled a willingness to push for an outline of terms, with a Monday meeting between Trump and Netanyahu expected to map out a path forward. In a Truth Social post Friday night, Trump said negotiations had been underway for days and that there was "more Goodwill and Enthusiasm for getting a Deal done" than he had seen in years, urging that hostages be released and peace achieved.

Netanyahu used the address to argue that the core obstacle to peace is not a lack of proposals but the absence of a Palestinian partner willing to accept Israel's right to exist in peace. He asserted that the two-state solution is a delusion unless Palestinian society commits to living in peace with Israel and noted that groups like Hamas retain broad support among some Palestinians. The prime minister has repeatedly warned that, for Israel, there can be no compromise that threatens its security, referencing past offers of statehood that were rejected and led to renewed violence.

The plan for post-conflict governance has also entered debate. Some aides reportedly floated former British prime minister Tony Blair in a coordinating role for Gaza after the fighting ends, while discussions about a possible multinational peacekeeping force have raised questions about the composition and legitimacy of any such force. Netanyahu has made clear that Israel would not accept leadership of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, noting that the PA's civil authority in the West Bank is already weak and unpopular, and that Hamas would not cede control.

Two years after the Oct. 7 attacks, the path to a durable settlement remains unclear. Israel's position that it will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas disarms and all hostages are released remains central to any credible plan, and the perception that Western powers are pressing for Palestinian statehood has intensified debate about whether such a move could empower Hamas rather than moderate it. Some Western governments have argued for a Palestinian state as a step toward peace, while others warn that rewarding Hamas by moving toward statehood could undermine security goals. The debate comes as Israeli and Palestinian leaders face domestic pressures and a weary public, with the conflict shaping international diplomacy and the prospects for a broader regional deal.

Analysts say the prospects for a quick peace deal remain limited, given Hamas's entrenched position and Israel's insistence on security guarantees. The international community's appetite for a new round of negotiations is mixed, and even as the Trump administration leans toward a potential framework, questions linger about who would contribute troops or resources to a peacekeeping effort and how governance would be structured on the ground. In this environment, Netanyahu's address underscored a clear message: Israel will defend its sovereignty, while many world leaders weigh how to respond to a conflict that has drawn in regional powers and continues to alter the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.