Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a protest at the United Nations General Assembly in New York when representatives from 75 countries heckled him and began leaving as he came to the podium. Netanyahu remained silent for about 3 minutes before responding to the disruption.
He then said he wanted to make one point before beginning: anyone else who was a coward should leave. The gallery, meanwhile, was filled with Netanyahu's supporters, who applauded and chanted “Am Yisrael Chai”, meaning “the people of Israel live”.
Netanyahu defends Israel's Gaza campaign
Netanyahu's address focused on Israel's actions in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon. Referring to the October 7, 2023 attack, he defended Israel's military response and described the killings of Israelis by Hamas militants as horrifying.
He said Israel's enemies had expected the country to collapse, but that it had instead risen and fought “like lions”. Netanyahu also rejected accusations that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. He called the allegation the biggest lie of the 21st century and said Israel had stopped genocide rather than carried it out.
Netanyahu further claimed that Hamas supporters would have killed every Jewish person if given the opportunity. He ended the speech by saying, “We have no other choice.” The gallery responded with applause lasting about 30 seconds.
Pager attacks and Iran warning
The Israeli prime minister referred to the operation in which pagers carried by Hezbollah members exploded. He asked whether the audience remembered the pagers and said Hezbollah certainly did. On September 17, 2024, thousands of pagers exploded across Lebanon and Syria, injuring more than 3,000 people and killing several others.
Netanyahu also warned about Iran's missile capability, asking what would happen if a one-ton Iranian ballistic missile struck the United Nations building. He said such an attack could destroy the entire surrounding area.
Calling Iran's leaders “the dictator of Tehran”, Netanyahu said they were afraid of their own people. He displayed a device from Elon Musk's company Starlink and said it could allow people in Iran to speak openly. He added that he would leave the device for Iran's delegation so its members could use the internet and social media if they turned against or abandoned their government.
Criticism of Mamdani and praise for Trump
Netanyahu criticised New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, calling him a supporter of Hamas. He said Jewish people no longer felt safe in New York, which he described as home to the world's largest Jewish population. He also criticised Mamdani's wife over s opposing Israel.
Netanyahu praised Donald Trump and thanked him for supporting Israel, saying Trump had worked to save civilisation. He also said hostages remaining in Gaza had been brought back after an agreement reached with US help.
Iran's absent delegation
Iran's delegation was not present during the speech. A graph of Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran's Quds Force, was placed at Iran's seat in front of the table where Iranian diplomats normally sit.
Soleimani was killed near Baghdad airport in a US drone strike on January 3, 2020, ordered by then-US President Donald Trump. He was described as one of Iran's most powerful military commanders and was considered the country's second-most powerful figure after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Protests were also held in New York against Netanyahu's speech.
Conclusion
Netanyahu's UN address unfolded amid a large protest by representatives from 75 countries. Despite the disruption, he used the speech to defend Israel's Gaza campaign, warn about Iran, recall the Hezbollah pager operation, criticise Zohran Mamdani and praise Donald Trump.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What happened during Netanyahu's UN speech?
Representatives from 75 countries heckled Netanyahu and began leaving as he approached the podium. He stayed silent for about 3 minutes before speaking.
Q. What did Netanyahu say about Gaza?
He defended Israel's military action after the October 7, 2023 attack and rejected allegations that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
Q. What did Netanyahu say about Iran?
He warned about the danger of a one-ton Iranian ballistic missile and displayed a Starlink device while discussing communication access for people in Iran.
Q. What did Netanyahu say about Hezbollah?
He referred to the pager explosions involving Hezbollah members and said the group would remember the operation.
Q. Was Iran's delegation present?
No. Iran's delegation was absent, while a graph of Qasem Soleimani was placed at Iran's seat.
Q. Who did Netanyahu criticise in New York?
He criticised New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and called him a supporter of Hamas.
Q. What did Netanyahu say about Donald Trump?
He praised Trump for supporting Israel and said he had worked to save civilisation.
