• Netanyahu vows to "finish the job" in Gaza, facing international backlash and walkouts during his UN speech.
• He condemns recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood by several nations, claiming it encourages terrorism.
• Amid protests in New York, he reaffirms Israel’s commitment to combat Hamas and addresses current geopolitical dynamics.

During a contentious speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defiantly declared that Israel must “finish the job” against Hamas in Gaza, despite facing increasing international isolation. His comments came as dozens of delegates from multiple nations walked out of the hall in protest, highlighting escalating tensions regarding Israel’s military actions amid accusations of genocide. Netanyahu insisted that recent recognition of Palestinian statehood by countries such as Australia and Canada was a “disgraceful decision” that would purportedly promote terrorism against Jews and innocent people everywhere, according to SCMP and India Times.

In response to the growing international outcry over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israeli operations have caused extensive casualties, Netanyahu claimed, “Israel has let into Gaza more than two million tonnes of food and aid.” However, various reports indicate that a significant portion of the population is suffering from severe shortages and famine, undermining his assertions. The humanitarian situation has continued to worsen, with over 65,000 Palestinians killed amidst the ongoing conflict, including a high percentage of civilians, according to Los Angeles Times, Channel News Asia, and Middle East Eye.

Netanyahu's address also featured claims dismissing the notion of genocide, asserting instead that the Israeli military takes more measures to minimize civilian casualties than any military in history. "Anti-semitism dies hard. In fact, it doesn’t die at all," he said, framing the criticisms of his government as rooted in a longstanding bias against Israel. This narrative was met with skepticism by many delegates, particularly as numerous nations have increasingly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, leading to discussions of potential sanctions, as reported by Africanews and TRT Global.

In a notable strategy, Netanyahu stated that his speech was being broadcast into Gaza, including the use of technology to send messages directly to mobile phones of residents, a tactic critics suggest is intended to manipulate information access during the ongoing conflict. His remarks included references to a supposed alliance with President Donald Trump, asserting that Israel has strategic backing against regional threats, particularly from Iran, as documented by Jakarta Post and Reuters.

Despite Netanyahu's bold declarations, his speech faced intense criticism and left many perceiving it as an attempt to deflect from the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with former officials and protestors describing his rhetoric as disconnected from the reality faced by millions of Palestinians in the besieged territory, according to AA and BBC.