Netanyahu to Speak at UN as Israel Faces Growing International Criticism

Netanyahu travels to New York for the United Nations General Assembly amid mounting international criticism of Israel's Gaza operation. He arrives under circumstances aides described as extraordinary. Western nations have stepped up diplomatic pressure, with Britain, Canada and Australia recognizing a Palestinian state at a French-Saudi summit in New York, following similar moves by other Western allies. Israel's government also faced travel disruptions as Netanyahu's plane rerouted to avoid airspace that refused overflight amid International Criminal Court arrest warrants against him.

Netanyahu is expected to deliver a combative speech at the United Nations to push back against the diplomatic wave and to counter accusations of genocide in Gaza. In New York, the government has mounted a public awareness campaign featuring billboards and trucks around the UN headquarters and Times Square that read Remember October 7 and link to a site detailing Hamas attacks and the fate of hostages.

On the sidelines, Netanyahu is set to meet allied leaders, including a high-profile session with President Donald Trump—the fourth encounter since Trump returned to the White House. Trump has unveiled a 21 point Gaza peace plan, and Israeli officials say they will press for changes. During remarks at the White House, Trump said progress toward a broader deal involving hostages, Israel and Arab states is underway, and asserted that he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank.

European diplomats attending the UN General Assembly have told Fox News Digital that Netanyahu's presence is seen as an obstacle rather than a solution. One senior official described him as part of the problem, and noted that the region may rely on Trump to pressure Netanyahu toward a deal that would enable reconstruction. They also pointed to the political tightrope Netanyahu faces at home, where his right-wing coalition has pressed for sovereignty moves in the West Bank while Arab states warn against actions that could undermine the Abraham Accords.

Back home, Netanyahu faces pressure from his right-wing coalition to declare sovereignty over parts of the West Bank, a move that could complicate Israel’s diplomatic balancing act. Arab leaders have cautioned against annexation, saying such a step could jeopardize regional normalization efforts. The international focus on Gaza and hostage accountability intensifies as the UN General Assembly convenes, with Netanyahu expected to frame Israel’s position in a broader security and counterterrorism context.

The UN General Assembly is expected to place Netanyahu in the global spotlight as he seeks to shape international discourse on Gaza and the hostage crisis, while critics push for greater accountability and an end to what they view as disproportionate harm in Gaza. Netanyahu’s staff has emphasized the goal of the trip as preserving Israel’s narrative amid shifting international support for a Palestinian state and as Western allies reassess regional diplomacy in light of the evolving Gaza crisis.

Officials say the campaign in New York aims to keep the focus on the Oct. 7 attacks and the 48 hostages still held in Gaza, countering momentum from opponents arguing for renewed pressure on Israel. The visit comes as Netanyahu prepares to speak first at the General Assembly, a moment his aides frame as pivotal in explaining Israel’s security needs and seeking international support for a difficult ongoing war.