Netanyahu denounces Palestinian recognition at UN as walkouts disrupt General Assembly

In a combative address to the United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assailed Western moves to recognize a Palestinian state, calling it a "mark of shame" and saying such recognitions send the message that "murdering Jews pays off." Dozens of officials and diplomats staged a walk-out as he spoke, leaving large sections of the conference hall sparsely filled amid a broader wave of international pressure over Israel’s war in Gaza. Outside New York’s U.N. complex, protesters gathered in Times Square to rally against Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

Netanyahu’s address followed a week in which several Western governments—Britain, France, Canada, Australia and others—announced recognition of the State of Palestine, signaling diverging international responses to the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. In his opening remarks, Netanyahu displayed a map labeled "The Curse" that he said illustrated Iranian proxy groups operating across the Middle East. He then mapped what he described as Israeli military operations over the past year against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza, and Iran itself. He thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for American involvement in the June strike on Iran’s Fordo nuclear facility, and he drew a parallel between Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel and the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

The Israeli prime minister also rejected the conclusions of a U.N. commission of inquiry that concluded Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, calling the charge "baseless." He pushed back on statements by U.N. agencies that Israel limits aid to Gaza, arguing the opposite and contending that aid flows are being impeded by what he described as Hamas’s control and misappropriation of relief supplies. In August, a U.N.-backed body confirmed that famine was taking place in Gaza City, a point Netanyahu used to bolster his argument that Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe is the result of Hamas and the broader conflict rather than a policy of deliberate Israeli famine.

Ahead of the speech, Netanyahu’s office ordered loudspeakers mounted on trucks near the Gaza perimeter fence to broadcast his remarks live across the territory, a move aimed at reaching Israelis and possibly hostages inside Gaza. He asserted that Israeli intelligence had hacked smartphones in Gaza to stream his message directly to people there. BBC reporting from Gaza, however, suggested the broadcasts did not reach all devices, and some observers noted the claim could not be independently verified under the blockade and restricted press access that has endured for years.

The remarks also surfaced as Netanyahu provided an update on hostages held by Hamas. He said there are 48 hostages remaining in Gaza, with about 20 believed to be alive, and he framed the message to them as a steadfast pledge: "Our brave heroes ... This is Prime Minister Netanyahu speaking to you live from the United Nations. We have not forgotten you, not even for a second. The people of Israel are with you. We will not falter, and we will not rest until we bring all of you home." The status of hostages remains a central, highly sensitive element of the war, complicating any potential negotiation or ceasefire talks.

In the latter portion of his address, Netanyahu shifted to regional diplomacy, signaling a de-escalation path with neighboring Syria and urging the Lebanese government to step up efforts to disarm Hezbollah. The stance drew immediate criticism from opposition figures at home. Yair Lapid, the former prime minister and current leader of the opposition, criticized the speech in strong terms, saying it portrayed a weary and whining leadership and that Netanyahu’s approach risked deepening political and diplomatic strain at a pivotal moment. "Instead of stopping the diplomatic tsunami, Netanyahu today worsened the state of the State of Israel," Lapid wrote on social media.

Shortly after Netanyahu concluded, former U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to journalists and offered a brief, tantalizing glimpse: "I think we have a deal on Gaza." Trump did not provide details, and analysts noted that U.S. officials had offered cautious language about any breakthrough, with many doubting whether a formal agreement was imminent and noting the speech’s broader stance could complicate a potential deal.

Across the globe, the tensions surrounding Gaza remain acute. International journalists have largely been barred by Israel from entering the Gaza Strip independently since the war began nearly two years ago, complicating verification of casualty figures and the humanitarian situation on the ground. The Gaza health ministry, controlled by Hamas, has tallied rising casualties, with at least 65,549 people reported killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to the ministry. The toll reflects the broader, protracted conflict sparked by Hamas’s attack and Israel’s subsequent military operation in Gaza that has drawn repeated international condemnation as well as sympathy and calls for restraint from different governments.

The day’s developments unfolded against a backdrop of rising international pressure over the war. As Western governments acknowledged Palestinian statehood in the face of the ongoing conflict, regional voices urged caution and restraint, underscoring the difficulty of reconciling humanitarian concerns with strategic and security objectives. The walkout at the UN marked a visible split within the international community about the best path forward in Gaza and the status of Palestinian statehood as peace negotiations and potential ceasefire talks continue to elude a clear resolution.

The UN speech and the surrounding debate underscored how the Gaza crisis, now in its second year, continues to shape global diplomacy. With casualties mounting and humanitarian needs escalating, governments are weighing legal, moral, and strategic considerations as they navigate a fraught landscape of recognition, aid, and military action. The coming weeks are expected to bring further diplomatic maneuvering as major powers assess options for de-escalation and for addressing the broader risk of wider regional destabilization.