Netanyahu vows to denounce Western recognition of Palestine ahead of UN General Assembly
Israeli prime minister says recognition moves amount to rewarding terrorism and pledges to oppose a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River as world leaders gather at the UN
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to denounce Western leaders for recognizing a Palestinian state in his upcoming address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying such moves amount to rewarding terror and would not stand. He told reporters at Ben Gurion Airport that he would speak truthfully about Israel, its citizens and its armed forces, and that Western recognitions of statehood for Palestine would not alter Israel’s positions on security.
The move by Western leaders has unfolded amid a broader push by several countries to recognise a Palestinian state. Sir Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine, joining a cohort of states including Canada, Australia and Portugal. Belgium and France followed the UK’s move the next day, with French President Emmanuel Macron telling the UN that we must do everything within our power to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution. The shift drew a sharp response from Netanyahu, who argued that recognitions were effectively rewarding Hamas. "Rewarding terror with an enormous prize," he said, adding that there would be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River.
Amid the diplomatic frictions, the international scene has seen broad backing for Palestinian statehood from a majority of UN members—about 151 countries—who recognise Palestine as a state. In New York, Netanyahu said, "At the UN General Assembly, I will speak our truth—the truth about the citizens of Israel, the truth about our IDF soldiers and the truth about our country." He also warned that recognition by other leaders was not binding on Israel and would not compel concessions, according to his office.
As he prepared to board his flight to the United States, Netanyahu said he would meet with allied leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, to discuss how recent developments influence their shared goals. He framed the upcoming discussions as part of "our victories" in ongoing regional security efforts and emphasized the need to advance the war aims, including the return of hostages and the defeat of Hamas. The reference to "victories" appears to tie to Israel’s broader campaign arc, which included a 12-day military operation against Iran-linked targets, cited in some briefings as Operation Rising Lion.
In Gaza, the humanitarian crisis continued to loom large over the diplomatic debate. The Palestinian health system, controlled by Hamas, reported damage to medical facilities and disruptions to services in the territory as fighting intensified. Two Gaza City hospitals were taken out of service amid the escalation of Israel’s ground offensive and ongoing bombardment. The Al-Rantissi Children’s Hospital was badly damaged in a previous strike, and authorities said nearby Eye Hospital faced disruptions that forced service suspensions.
Over a recent 48-hour window in Gaza City, UN human rights offices documented at least 51 Palestinians killed in 18 attacks on residential buildings, underscoring the severity of civilian harm amid the fighting. The conflict’s toll has been stark: Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel killed about 1,200 people, with 251 taken hostage. Israel’s subsequent operations have led to substantial casualties in Gaza, with Gaza’s Hamas-run health authorities reporting that more than 65,000 Palestinians have died over the course of the two-year campaign, most of them civilians.
The evolving recognitions and the UN General Assembly’s spotlight come as domestic political dynamics in Israel push some coalition partners to consider annexation of parts of the West Bank. Trump, for his part, signaled at the UN that he would not allow such annexations to proceed, according to Politico sources cited in briefings. As world leaders gather in New York, the unfolding interplay of diplomacy, security concerns and humanitarian needs will shape the tenor of the session and the international response to the Gaza crisis.
The debate underscores a widening rift in the international community over how to address Palestinian statehood, security guarantees for Israel and the path to a two-state solution, all set against a backdrop of ongoing violence and deep humanitarian distress in Gaza.