Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Netanyahu said that Israel “must finish the job in Gaza as fast as possible.” He said that the “final remnants of Hamas are holed up in Gaza City.”
Scores of delegates exited the hall as Netanyahu took the stage.
Netanyahu’s office said that on his orders, troops will broadcast his speech at the UN headquarters to Palestinians in Gaza from loudspeakers mounted on trucks on the Israeli side of the border.
He told the hostages still held by the Palestinian militants they were not forgotten as his speech was broadcast on loudspeakers towards Gaza. Netanyahu said that he would not rest until all the hostages are brought home.
To Hamas, he said, “Lay down your arms. Free all [the] hostages now … If you do, you will live. If you don’t Israel will hunt you down.”
Netanyahu catalogued Israeli victories against Hamas and other militant groups backed by Iran in a speech that detailed Hamas’s actions on 7 October 2023, when the militant group attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and took hostages, 48 of whom remain in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. “Much of the world no longer remembers 7 October but we remember,” Netanyahu said.
He said that Israel had “devastated” Iran’s atomic weapons and ballistic missiles programme. He said that Israel had also “hammered” the Houthis, “crushed the bulk of Hamas” and “crippled” Hezbollah.
Also, Netanyahu thanked US President, Donald Trump for “his bold, decisive action against Iran.” The Israeli Prime Minister told the UN general assembly that “Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles must be eliminated.”
He urged delegates to “remain clear-minded, vigilant [and] not allow Iran to rebuild [its] nuclear capabilities.” Netanyahu added that Israel had “removed an existential threat of Iran” to his country.
Additionally, Netanyahu accused world leaders of “appeasing evil” rather than supporting Israel. He claimed that “many leaders who publicly condemn Israel, thank us behind closed doors.”
Netanyahu claimed that Israel were applying more measures to minimize civilian casualties than any military in history. “Would a country committing genocide plead with the civilian population it is supposedly targeting to get out of harm’s way?” he asked.
Netanyahu stated that Israel had dropped “millions of leaflets, sent millions of text messages [and] made countless phone calls urging civilians to leave Gaza City.”
Netanyahu Rebukes Western Nations For Embracing Palestinian Statehood
Moreover, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu sharply denounced western countries for embracing Palestinian statehood and accused them of buckling under pressure from activists and others who have accused Israel of war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza.
He pushed back in harsh terms against a flurry of diplomatic moves by leading US allies that deepened Israel’s international isolation over its conduct of the nearly two-year-old war against Hamas militants in Gaza.
“This week, the leaders of France, Britain, Australia, Canada and other countries unconditionally recognised a Palestinian state. They did so after the horrors committed by Hamas on 7 October – horrors praised on that day by nearly 90% of the Palestinian population.
“You know what message the leaders who recognise the Palestinian state this week sent to the Palestinians?” Netanyahu said. “It’s a very clear message: murdering Jews pays off.”
Benjamin Netanyahu
With more countries joining the list of those endorsing Palestinian independence, the most right-wing government in Israeli history has made its strongest declaration yet that there will be no Palestinian state.
READ ALSO: Former Deputy Minister Defends NPP Amid World Bank Report
