Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was met with a wave of protest on Thursday when scores of delegates walked out of the UN General Assembly in New York ahead of his speech.
Hamas quickly seized upon the demonstration as proof of Israel’s growing isolation over the war in Gaza.
Taher Al Nunu, media adviser to Hamas’s political chief, described the protest as “one of the manifestations of Israel’s isolation and the results of the genocide war.” He went further, condemning Israel’s decision to broadcast Mr Netanyahu’s speech over loudspeakers along the Gaza border, calling it an act of “sadism.”
“The Palestinian state will be established by Palestinian, Arab, and international will regardless of Netanyahu’s objections,” Al Nunu declared.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office defended the broadcast, telling CNN it was intended as part of a public diplomacy effort. Mr Netanyahu, who has faced intensifying international criticism for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, insisted during his address that Israel would continue to pursue what he called “total victory” against Hamas.
The sharp exchange highlights the widening gulf between Israel and much of the international community. While the United States has continued to back Israel’s military operations, pressure is mounting from European and Global South nations, many of whom have condemned the scale of civilian casualties.
Analysts say the optics of empty seats at the UN General Assembly will bolster Hamas’s narrative that Israel is increasingly isolated on the world stage. But Netanyahu’s defiant tone suggests he remains unmoved by such displays of disapproval.
The Gaza conflict has left tens of thousands dead, displaced millions, and fuelled diplomatic tensions worldwide with little sign that either side is prepared to back down.
