Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his country’s military operations in Iran, Gaza and elsewhere in the Middle East during a contentious address to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.
Dozens of delegates walked out as Netanyahu approached the podium in protest of Israel’s conduct in the region. The Israeli leader responded by calling those who left “moral cowards” and vowed to continue fighting.
“We’re going to win. We have no other choice,” Netanyahu told the assembly.
He also rejected accusations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, while defending the conduct of Israeli forces.
The speech came hours after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN through a recorded message. Abbas criticised Israeli policies in the occupied West Bank, particularly the expansion of Jewish settlements, saying they threatened the existence of the Palestinian people and undermined prospects for a two-state solution. Abbas also accused Israel of subjecting Palestinians in Gaza to killing, destruction, starvation and displacement.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, attacked several governments and political leaders who have criticised Israel. He described Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a “tyrant” and accused him of supporting Hamas. Erdogan had earlier told the General Assembly that the situation facing Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank deeply offended the conscience of humanity.
Turkey’s presidential communications director, Burhanettin Duran, rejected Netanyahu’s remarks, saying the Israeli leader had used the UN platform to make what he called baseless accusations against Turkey and Erdogan.
Netanyahu also criticised New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has previously condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza. Mamdani’s office responded by accusing Netanyahu of using the speech to repeat what it described as false claims about Israel’s conduct.
The Israeli prime minister also praised US President Donald Trump for his support and referred to joint US-Israeli military action against Iran.
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