Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected genocide allegations at the UN General Assembly on Thursday, while criticizing regional leaders and defending Israel's military actions.
Key facts
- •Scores of delegates walked out of the UN General Assembly hall as Netanyahu approached the podium.
- •The Palestinian Mission had previously urged UN member nations to collectively walk out during the speech.
- •Netanyahu claimed that many world leaders privately thank Israel for its actions against Iran's nuclear capabilities.
- •The Prime Minister accused Turkey of trespassing into Syria and Greece, and of denying the Armenian genocide.
- •Netanyahu referenced the September 17, 2024, remote detonation of pagers used by Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, dismissing allegations of genocide in Gaza as the "lie of the century." His appearance was marked by significant disruption, as scores of delegates walked out of the assembly hall before he began speaking. Netanyahu, who defended Israel's military operations against Iran and its proxies, labeled the departing delegates as "moral cowards" while asserting that Israel is defending other nations in its conflict.
Response to Genocide Allegations
Netanyahu rejected claims that Israel is committing war crimes or genocide in Gaza. To support his position, he questioned how a "genocidal regime" would provide millions of polio vaccines to the local population or facilitate the distribution of two million tons of food to Gaza. He argued that Israel is currently engaged in an information war against nations that promote what he described as antisemitic narratives.
Criticism of Regional Leaders
During his address, the Prime Minister singled out Qatar and Turkey for their alleged roles in financing or spreading anti-Israel sentiment. He accused Qatar of funding universities and media outlets like Al Jazeera to influence young minds against Israel and the West. Regarding Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Netanyahu characterized him as a "tyrant" and accused him of human rights abuses, including the killing of Kurdish civilians and the illegal occupation of northern Cyprus.
Military and Regional Stance
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel is fighting on multiple fronts, including against Iran. He stated that attacking Iran was one of his easiest decisions and claimed that the regime's toppling is inevitable. During his speech, he held up a pager to reference the September 17, 2024, operation in which thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah were remotely detonated.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Hindustan Times World, Jerusalem Post.
