Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday launched a blistering attack on Western nations that have recently recognized a Palestinian state, accusing them of rewarding terrorism and undermining Israel’s war effort against Hamas.
Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly, Netanyahu said leaders of France, Britain, Australia, Canada and others had committed a “mark of shame” by endorsing Palestinian statehood. “You know what message the leaders who recognize the Palestinian state this week sent to the Palestinians? It’s a very clear message: murdering Jews pays off,” he declared, referencing Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault on Israel that killed about 1,200 people.
His remarks came as Israel faces deepening international isolation over a war in Gaza that has raged nearly two years, leaving more than 65,000 Palestinians dead and the enclave in ruins, according to local health officials.
Netanyahu’s speech was met with sharp divisions. Scores of delegates walked out of the hall, though some attendees in the gallery gave him a standing ovation. Outside, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked traffic near Times Square.
Accusing world leaders of “caving under pressure,” Netanyahu said many privately thank Israel for its intelligence cooperation even while condemning its actions in public. The Hamas-run Gaza media office denounced his address as “filled with lies and blatant contradictions,” calling it a desperate attempt to justify “war crimes and genocide.”
The wave of recognitions by U.S. allies marks a dramatic diplomatic shift. Countries including Ireland and several European powers have argued that recognizing Palestine is essential to preserve a two-state solution and end the conflict. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking by video after being denied a U.S. visa, thanked supportive states and pledged that the Palestinian Authority would govern Gaza after the war, insisting Hamas must disarm.
Netanyahu rejected such efforts, reiterating his vow to defeat Hamas entirely. “Much of the world no longer remembers October 7. But we remember,” he said, addressing hostages still held in Gaza. He revealed his remarks were broadcast via loudspeakers at the border so captives might hear his promise not to rest until they are freed.
U.S. President Donald Trump, Israel’s chief ally, told reporters he believed a deal to end the war and secure the hostages’ release was close, though details remain unclear. Trump is expected to meet Netanyahu in Washington on Monday. However, he warned he would block any Israeli annexation of the West Bank, a stance that risks straining ties with Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners
The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza, charges Israel rejects. At the U.N., Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin condemned Israel’s conduct as “an abandonment of all norms, all international rules and law.”
Despite mounting criticism abroad and growing frustration at home, Netanyahu doubled down. Israel’s army chief declared Hamas’s governing capacity “collapsed,” and the prime minister vowed to “finish the job as quickly as possible.”
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
