- Dozens of delegations walked out of the U.N. General Assembly as Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Israel would “finish the job” in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.
- Netanyahu claimed Israeli and U.S. strikes devastated Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, urged a snapback of U.N. sanctions, and thanked President Donald Trump for “bold and decisive action.”
- He issued an ultimatum to Hamas to release “the whole 48” hostages and outlined endgame conditions: a demilitarized Gaza, Israeli security control, and a civilian authority committed to peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant address to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, declaring Israel “must finish the job” against Hamas in Gaza as dozens of delegates staged a dramatic walkout in protest of the ongoing war.
Netanyahu insisted that despite growing international pressure and condemnation, Israel “must finish the job” in Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks in October 2023, during which an estimated 1,139 people were killed.
The speech began with an extraordinary scene of diplomatic protest as representatives from dozens of countries walked out as Netanyahu approached the podium. Nearly all representatives from Arab and Muslim countries appeared to walk out, along with counterparts from several African countries and a few European countries.
Iran Nuclear Claims Take Center Stage
In one of the most significant portions of his address, Netanyahu made sweeping claims about Israeli operations against Iran’s nuclear program. “Above anything else that I could say to you that we did in this past year, we devastated Iran’s atomic-weapons and ballistic-missile programmes,” the Israeli leader declared.
He thanked President Donald Trump for what he called “bold and decisive action,” claiming Israeli and American fighter pilots had bombed Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites. “We must not allow Iran to rebuild its military nuclear capacity,” Netanyahu asserted, calling for UN Security Council sanctions on Iran to be reimposed.
Using a poster he titled “The Curse,” which he said depicted “the curse of Iran’s terror axis,” Netanyahu claimed his country had systematically dismantled regional adversaries. He listed off what he characterized as eliminated threats: “half of Houthi leadership in Yemen, Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon, the Assad regime in Syria.”
Hamas Ultimatum and War Continuation
Netanyahu addressed the war in Gaza directly, saying “We’re not done yet” and adding that “the final elements, the final remnants of Hamas are holed up in Gaza City”.
The prime minister issued a direct ultimatum to Hamas leaders: “Lay down your arms. Let my people go. Free the hostages — all of them, the whole 48. Free the hostages now!” He warned that if Hamas complied, its leaders “will live,” but if not, “Israel will hunt you down.”
Netanyahu outlined conditions for ending the conflict, stating that Gaza would need to be demilitarized, Israel would retain security control, and a peaceful civilian authority would be established by Palestinians and others committed to peace with Israel.
International Isolation Grows
The walkout highlighted Israel’s growing diplomatic isolation over the Gaza war. Netanyahu called on Hamas leaders to surrender, lay down their weapons and release the hostages, but his message fell on largely empty seats as the protest unfolded.
Netanyahu castigated his “weak-kneed” critics and vowed to continue fighting Israel’s enemies until they are “gone”. He specifically addressed recent decisions by some countries to recognize Palestinian statehood, calling them “disgraceful” and warning they would “encourage terrorism against Jews and innocent people everywhere.”
The U.S. delegation remained seated during the address, though notably absent were senior American officials. The few world powers in attendance did not send their most senior representatives, instead filling their sections with lower-level diplomats.
The speech drew sharp divisions. Supporters in the gallery applauded, while critics jeered. The U.S. delegation remained seated, though represented by lower-level diplomats rather than senior officials. Britain also sent junior representatives. Netanyahu criticized nations that have recognized Palestinian statehood in recent months, calling such moves a “disgraceful decision” that encourages terrorism.
The walkout, captured in videos showing delegates streaming out of the hall, was described by Turkish state media Anadolu Agency as a mass protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza, where more than 65,000 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed since the conflict escalated. The conflict began after Hamas launched attacks on October 7, 2023, that killed approximately 1,139 people in Israel.
At the same time, thousands of people in Times Square showed their reaction to Netanyahu and protested the genocide in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s address was aimed as much at his increasingly divided domestic audience as the international community, as he faces mounting pressure both at home and abroad to end the devastating conflict in Gaza.
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