The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamín Netanyahu, was met with a clear display of rejection this Friday at the UN General Assembly, as dozens of representatives from various countries walked out of the chamber just as he began his speech.
The images of the moment showed a semi-empty hall as Netanyahu took the floor, in what several diplomats described as a gesture of protest against the current Israeli government's policies towards the Palestinian population and its military campaign in Gaza.
During his speech, the leader defended his country's actions in the Gaza Strip, asserting that Israel "must finish the job" and aims to do so "as soon as possible."
According to Netanyahu, the last fighters of Hamas remain entrenched in Gaza and continue to pose a threat.
In a direct message to the Palestinian group, he stated that if they release the hostages, they "will live", but if they do not, Israel will pursue them relentlessly.
Netanyahu also criticized the governments that recently officially recognized the Palestinian state — including France, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada — and accused those countries of "rewarding the most antisemitic people in the world".
He categorically rejected any possibility of recognizing the creation of a Palestinian state, stating that it would be "a madness that we will not commit." In his view, such a decision would imply a "national suicide" for Israel and represent a reward for those who—according to him—supported the attacks on October 7, 2023.
"My stance against a Palestinian state is also that of the people of Israel", he stated before the assembly, leaving no room for the possibility of a negotiated solution to the conflict.
Netanyahu's intervention comes amid growing international pressure on the Israeli government, following months of military offensive and reports of human rights violations in Gaza.
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