Benjamin Netanyahu attacks Israel’s enemies and allies in UN speech

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has applied his platform at the United Nations General Assembly to attack detractors and allies alike, and his presence sparked uproar in the chamber.

Key points

• According to Netanyahu on Thursday, israel was fighting a "seven-front war", including Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen's Houthis and militias in Iraq.
• As well as systematic war crimes in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, since October 7, 2023, Israel has faced repeated accusations of genocide in Gaza.
• As Netanyahu spoke, activists from US-based organisation Jewish Voice for Peace protested outside, accusing the United Nations of "playing host to a war criminal".
• He addressed the war that the US and Israel introduced on Iran in February, saying: "Devastating Iran's nuclear facilities was hard, was very hard to do."
• In his own speech before the UNGA on Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian additionally addressed the nuclear problem and called out the "double standard".

As well as allied countries like the United Kingdom and France, speaking before the UNGA on Thursday, Netanyahu attacked New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, critics and Iran's leadership.

Back home, the prime minister is locked in a tight race to stay in power ahead of an election on October 27, and analysts say his UNGA speech was aimed as much at individuals back home as it was at international viewers.

While Netanyahu's own team stood and applauded, and the speaker of the session shouted for order, dozens of envoys from worldwide walked out as the speech began, some jeering and booing.

"If there are any other moral cowards who haven't left this hall, please do so now, " Netanyahu remarked to those turning their backs on him.

"But for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I've ever had to make as prime minister", claiming that if he had not, "we'd all be dead", he continued.

"The nuclear weapon is in Israel, but the inspectors are in Iran. Israel kills, but Iran is subject to sanctions, " Pezeshkian remarked.

"We are going to win. We have no other choice, " Netanyahu declared, repeating the words of his older brother Yonatan Netanyahu. This person was killed in 1976 during Operation Entebbe in Uganda.

In practice, the United Kingdom and France, historic partners of Israel, were additionally in Netanyahu's firing line. They have become increasingly outspoken in their criticism of the country's actions and have both imposed limited sanctions on Israeli exports from the occupied West Bank.

"They accuse Israel, tiny Israel, of colonialism – some colonialism. And who's accusing us? Among them are individuals in Britain and in France. For God's sakes, they invented the term, " he remarked. But Netanyahu thanked his "friend", United States President Donald Trump.

As the US delegation joined the Israeli one in applauding Netanyahu's remark, "In this battle against the barbarians, we've had no greater partner than President Trump, " he remarked.

"I thank him, " remarked Netanyahu, adding that Israel and the US had acted together as pilots from both countries "flew joint missions over the skies of Iran".

As he defended Israeli actions in the enclave against charges of genocide, netanyahu remarked the US and Israel additionally "worked together to bring back our remaining hostages ".

"To all those spreading lies about my country, whether they sit in this hall or in the office of the anti-Semitic mayor of New York, I say this: shame on you, " Netanyahu remarked as he attacked Zohran Mamdani. This person had previously stated he would push for the arrest of the Israeli prime minister during his visit to the city.

"Mr Mamdani, you tried to stop me from coming here. You tried to silence me. Well, you can't silence me, " Netanyahu remarked as he denied that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.

Reacting to Netanyahu's comments, Mamdani called the accusations against him "baseless lies" meant to "sanitise his genocide of Palestinians".

Notably, the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) remarked in 2024 it had reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu was responsible for war crimes in Gaza, where over 73, 000 Palestinians have been killed. Netanyahu denies the ICC charges.

Netanyahu attended the UNGA session despite an ICC warrant calling for his arrest. While he was welcomed, the Trump administration denied a visa for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. This person addressed the UNGA through a prerecorded video statement from Ramallah earlier in the day.

"All across New York, Jews, Palestinians and people of conscience are rising up to demand an end to US support for the livestreamed horrors, rigged ceasefires and forever wars, " Sonya Meyerson-Knox, the group's communications director, informed Al Jazeera.

According to Meyerson-Knox, "solidarity with Palestinian freedom has never been greater, and here in the US we are demanding with one voice to stop arming Israel".

Adding to tensions, dozens of protesters, some brandishing "stop the genocide" banners, gathered near the UN. A number of demonstrators were detained, including prominent actor Susan Sarandon.

Inside the UN, but addressing divisions back home in Israel, Netanyahu remarked: "Throughout this long war, our goal never wavers – to win with unwavering resolve. What unites us is so much stronger: our history, our values, our courage."

Ariel Cohen, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, remarked the Israeli prime minister delivered a "good speech" at the UNGA but that he did so in the "wrong forum".

"That speech should be given at an election rally in Israel; this is who he's communicating to, " Cohen informed Al Jazeera. "He is making points that should be made to the Israeli audience for his political survival."

Netanyahu is only making a whirlwind stop in New York before rushing back to Israel, where the election campaign is in full swing. He is not scheduled to meet any top US leaders.

Taken together, the developments around benjamin Netanyahu attacks Israel's enemies and allies in UN speech point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.