Netanyahu calls Israel's war in Gaza 'opposite of genocide' in UN speech

Benjamin Netanyahu used a United Nations address in New York to defend Israel’s conduct in Gaza, calling the campaign “the opposite of genocide,” accusing critics of a global anti-Jewish conspiracy and singling out figures such as Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, commentator Hasan Piker and New York mayor Zohran Mamdani. The speech doubled as an election stump message, invoked his late brother Yonatan and framed Iran as an existential threat, claiming joint US‑Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were necessary. Dozens of delegates walked out in protest after a Palestinian call for a symbolic boycott, and hundreds of demonstrators outside the UN - some holding “End the Genocide” signs - clashed with police, resulting in more than 100 arrests.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas delivered a video address denouncing Israeli policies in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem as a “malicious colonial plan” that risks another Nakba, and protested the Trump administration’s denial of visas to his delegation, which Washington says stems from Palestinian failures to pursue reforms and peace commitments. Netanyahu left without scheduled high‑level US meetings, saying he must return to Israel for an election campaign and the Sukkot holiday, while New York’s mayor softened earlier threats to bar him despite having called him “not welcome.”