Delegates leave while Netanyahu speaks on the United Nations

After being repeatedly convicted as a war criminal for other world leaders during the current meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had his turn to talk on the world stage on Friday.

Many delegates left when Netanyahu approached the podium.

“We haven’t finished yet,” said Netanyahu. “The final elements, the final remains of Hamas, are hidden in the city of Gaza. They promise to repeat the atrocities of October 7 again and again, regardless of how diminished their forces decrease. This is why Israel must finish the work, that is why we want to do it as quickly as possible.”

Hours before his speech, the Netanyahu office announced that his speech to the UN General Assembly would be broadcast live on speakers directed to Gaza from the Israeli side of the border.

Netanyahu said he hoped that Israeli hostages in Gaza could hear their message through the speakers, and took a moment to go directly in Hebrew and English.

“Our brave brothers, this is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who tells you about the United Nations. We have not forgotten you, not even for a second. The people of Israel are with you. We will not hesitate and we will not rest until we bring them all home,” Netyahu said.

Netanyahu also said that his speech was being broadcast live to the cell phones of the Gazans.

“Then, for the remaining leaders of Hamas and for the jailers of our hostages, I now say: ‘Liege my arms, let my people go, release the hostages, all of them, all the 48, free the hostages now. If you do, you will live. If you do not, Israel will hunt you,” Netyahu said.

Before leaving Tel Aviv on Thursday, Netanyahu promised to adopt a strong position against countries that had formally announced their support for an independent Palestinian State during the Annual Global Summit

“I have a message for these leaders, when the wildest terrorists on earth effusively praise their decision, you did not do something right, you did something wrong, terribly badly,” said Prime Minister in his UN speech.

“It will be a brand of shame for all of you,” Netanyahu added.

In addition to an icy reception of the heads of state opposite to the ongoing military campaign of Israel in Gaza, it is expected that Netanyahu in front of protests while in New York.

The family members of some of the hostages held in Gaza have announced plans to demonstrate outside the UN Headquarters during Prime Minister’s speech, asking Netanyahu and other leaders who prioritize the release of hostages.

An isolated Israel

Even before Netanyahu arrived in New York, Israel’s isolation at the United Nations was evident.

Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar described Israel as a “dishonest government” during his speech before the assembly on Tuesday, calling Israeli air attack on Hamas’ leadership in Doha at the beginning of this month a “treacherous attack”.

“They visit our country and plan to attack it. They negotiate with delegations and plan to kill the members of the negotiation teams. It is difficult to cooperate with such a mentality that it does not respect the slightest standards of cooperation,” he said. “It’s impossible.”

The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, denounced the war in Gaza during his comments by opening the general debate.

“The Death and Destruction Scale is beyond any other conflict in my years as Secretary General,” he said.

“Nothing can justify the horrible terrorist attacks of Hamas on October 7 and the hostage taking, which I have repeatedly condemned. And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” Guterres added.

He also asked Israel to fully comply with the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice, which require Israel to take measures to avoid genocide in Gaza.

The Israeli government has long sustained that the United Nations are biased against Israel and has denied having violated international law.

However, the decisions of another global court, the International Criminal Court (ICC), may have altered Netanyahu’s travel plans.

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant against Israeli prime minister, and flight data from his trip to New York showed that his plane took an indirect route to New York, avoiding the airspace of countries that could enforce the order.

The Israel government has not commented why the longest route was selected.

Both Israel and the United States are not part of the Rome Statute, which is the treaty that established the CPI and has not consented to its jurisdiction. The Trump administration has also taken several measures to penalize the ICC for issuing arrest orders for the arrests of Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials.

Netanyahu returns to Washington

While in the United States, Netanyahu is also scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump in Washington, marking the fourth time that both have gathered face to face since Trump’s return to the White House.

This private meeting can be much more consistent for Israel and the Middle East than Netanyahu’s speech on the global stage.

American and Israelis officials say that leaders are expected to discuss what actions of retaliation Israel can take in response to the growing impulse to recognize a Palestinian state in the UN.

The two also made a phone call on Thursday, according to the White House.

Although Trump and Netanyahu are close allies, the meeting comes at a time when both have divergent agendas. The prime minister has been contemplating that annexing additional territory in the West Bank, something that the president has promised that he will not allow it.

“I will not allow Israel to annex to the West Bank. No, I will not allow it,” Trump said Thursday. “It won’t happen.”

The president also expressed a renewed hope of an agreement to resolve the conflict and free Gaza’s hostages, predicting that “soon” could happen.