New York: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that the creation of a Palestinian state would amount to “national suicide.” His remarks came just days after the adoption of the New York Declaration, which reaffirmed support for a two-state solution.
Walkout During Netanyahu’s Speech
A majority of UN delegates reportedly walked out as Netanyahu prepared to deliver his address. The declaration was adopted during the UN High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, with widespread backing from nations including the UK, France, and Australia.
Netanyahu accused these countries of “shoving terror down Israel’s throat. We will not allow this.” Comparing Palestinian statehood to an Al Qaeda stronghold near New York, he said:
“Setting up a Palestinian state a mile away from Jerusalem is like setting up an Al Qaeda state a mile away from New York.”
Public Diplomacy and Criticism at Home
Netanyahu’s office claimed his UN speech was broadcast via loudspeakers on the Gaza border as a “public diplomacy effort.” However, CNN reported that families of Israeli hostages strongly opposed the move.
Ana Angrest, the mother of hostage Matan Angrest, wrote on X:
“Netanyahu, my Matan and other hostages may hear you today. Any sentence other than ‘I came to the U.S. to sign a deal that brings you all home’ amounts to psychological abuse for them. Do not break their hope, if any still remains.”
Gaza War Context
The war erupted after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, which killed around 1,195 people and resulted in 251 hostages, according to Israel. In response, Israel launched a military campaign that has killed over 61,800 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The UN Human Rights Office says 70% of those killed in residential strikes were women and children. A Guardian report citing Israeli intelligence noted that 83% of Gaza’s casualties were civilians.
A UN commission of inquiry has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, while the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for both Netanyahu and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif for crimes against humanity. Netanyahu denied the genocide allegations in his UN address.
Netanyahu’s Conditions
Netanyahu said Israel would only agree to end the war if Palestine fully demilitarises, vowing to continue operations until Hamas is eliminated.
“That is why Israel must finish the job. That is why we want to do so as fast as possible,” he said.
He also claimed that Gaza residents’ phones were streaming his speech live due to Israeli intelligence efforts.
Regional Escalation
On September 9, Israeli airstrikes in Doha targeted Hamas leaders engaged in ceasefire and prisoner-swap negotiations, killing six people.
During his UN speech, Netanyahu displayed a prop map highlighting Iran, Iraq, and Syria as part of a so-called “terror axis.” He listed regional leaders Israel had killed, including:
Yahya Sinwar (Hamas leader, Gaza)
Hassan Nasrallah (Hezbollah chief, Lebanon)
“Half the Houthi leaders” (Yemen)
Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists.
Netanyahu Calls Palestinian State “National Suicide” At UNGA, Faces Global Pushback
