UNGA: Netanyahu defends Israel's war on Gaza, rejects Palestinian statehood

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has accused United Nations member states of failing to stand with Israel at a time when the country is fighting “terrorism.”

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“You know very well Israel is fighting your fight,” Mr Netanyahu told leaders while delivering a speech on Friday at the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York.

He also claimed that Israel’s “good effort” is being portrayed as “evil”, and “terror attacks” by Hamas and other groups are portrayed as “good”.

As the prime minister delivered his speech, dozens of country representatives walked out in protest against Israel’s ongoing assault on Palestine. The walkout is the latest public protest against Israel from an audience of world leaders who are demanding an end to the war in Gaza.

However, Mr Netanyahu, who is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, accused world leaders of buckling and caving in “when the going got tough” for Israel.

He said Israel is fighting a seven-front war with little support.

“You condemn us, you embargo us, and you wage political and legal warfare — it’s called lawfare — against us,” he told the UN member states.

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Mr Netanyahu also described the recognition of a Palestinian state as “sheer madness” and a shameful capitulation of world leaders to what he said was Hamas terror.

“Our enemies are your enemies,” Mr Netanyahu said. “Our enemies hate all of us with equal venom; they want to drag the modern world back to the past. To a dark age of violence, fanaticism, and terror.”

And in an attempt to prove his point, the Israeli leader used a pop quiz to question America’s relations with Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran.

He asked, “Who has murdered Americans and Europeans in cold blood? Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, or all of them.”

Mr Netanyahu also claimed that some of the leaders who publicly condemned Israel’s action privately expressed gratitude to Israel behind closed doors.

“Many of you are already feeling the radical Islamic surge. Let me tell you a secret. Behind closed doors, many of the leaders who publicly condemn us privately thank us.

“They tell me how much they value Israel’s superb intelligence that has prevented, time and again, terrorist attacks in their capitals, saving countless lives,” he said.

‘Palestinian statehood a national suicide for Israel’

The Israeli Prime Minister also spoke out against the recognition of Palestine as an independent state by the majority of countries of the world.

He said Israel “will not commit national suicide” by allowing the creation of a Palestinian state.

He told world leaders who have declared recognition of the state that Israel “will not allow you to shove a terror state down our throats.”

Since the beginning of the UNGA, many countries, including Nigeria, have restated their call for a two-state solution. This is amidst the increasing humanitarian crisis in Gaza caused by Israeli attacks, which has been described as genocide by the UN and human rights activists

Many of them had earlier asked Israel to stop its genocidal war in Gaza and commit to a long-term sustainable peace process that delivers a two-state solution and allows more aid into the enclave.

Some countries, such as the UK, Canada, Australia, France, and Portugal, recently recognised Palestinian statehood. But Mr Netanyahu said the countries took this decision because they seem to have forgotten Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.

Mr Netanyahu recalled that about 1,200 people were killed in the attack.

“Much of the world no longer remembers October 7. But we remember,” he said. While saying that a Palestinian state would be national suicide for Israel, Mr Netanyahu stated that victory over Hamas “will make peace possible”.

Speech streamed in Gaza

Mr Netanyahu also spoke directly to Hamas in his speech. He mentioned that this speech was being streamed live to the cellphones of Gazans through Israeli intelligence.

The Israeli leader said the nearly two-year-long conflict could end if Hamas accepts Israel’s demands, which include the demilitarisation of Gaza.

READ ALSO: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Two possible pathways to the two-state solution, By Femi Mimiko

“Free the hostages now. If you do, you will live. If you don’t, Israel will hunt you down,” he said.

He said Israel believes that there are about 20 hostages still alive in Gaza.

However, Hamas has publicly rejected Israel’s demand to demilitarise Gaza.

Hamas has said it is willing to release all remaining hostages in return for an end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.