On the floor of the United Nations General Assembly, a dramatic moment unfolded as dozens of country representatives exited the chamber just as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address.
Netanyahu, standing at the podium, insisted that Israel is “not done yet,” arguing that the remaining pockets of Hamas in Gaza must be eliminated because they persist in threatening further acts of terror. He framed his message as urgent and uncompromising, saying: “That is why Israel must finish the job … as fast as possible.”
In a bold move, Israeli authorities arranged for Netanyahu’s speech not only to be heard in the assembly hall but also broadcast on loudspeakers facing Gaza, and streamed live to cell phones within the territory. He directly addressed Hamas’ leadership and the captors of Israeli hostages, issuing a stark ultimatum: release all detainees immediately or face relentless pursuit.
To underscore his broader security case, Netanyahu displayed a map of perceived threats tied to Iran, claiming that across the past year, Israel had neutralized key elements in Hamas, Hezbollah, and even launched strikes against the Houthi movement. He credited former U.S. President Donald Trump for helping eliminate what he called a “mortal threat” posed by Iranian nuclear ambitions.
Tensions had already been brewing ahead of his speech. Protests were planned outside UN headquarters by families of hostages, urging global leaders to prioritize their safe return. In parallel, several nations that back a sovereign Palestinian state had been sharply criticized by Netanyahu in his remarks, which warned them of moral and historical disgrace if they supported groups he labeled “the most savage terrorists on Earth.”
In sum, Netanyahu’s UNGA address — marked by broadcast theatrics, hardline rhetoric, and vocal opposition from delegates — underscored the polarized global divisions over Israel’s strategies in Gaza.
