Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has sharply denounced Western countries for embracing Palestinian statehood, accusing them of sending a message that “murdering Jews pays off.”
Speaking at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly, Netanyahu pushed back against diplomatic moves by leading US allies that have deepened Israel’s international isolation over its conduct of a nearly two-year-old war against Hamas militants in Gaza which have left over 65,000 Palestinians dead mostly women and children.
Meanwhile, this came as some members of the UN General Assembly exited the hall as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu approached the podium.
“This week, the leaders of France, Britain, Australia, Canada, and other countries unconditionally recognised a Palestinian state. They did so after the horrors committed by Hamas on October 7 – horrors praised on that day by nearly 90% of the Palestinian population,” Netanyahu said as quoted by The Guardian.
“You know what message the leaders who recognise the Palestinian state this week sent to the Palestinians? It’s a very clear message: murdering Jews pays off.”
In an unprecedented operation, Israeli military loudspeaker systems broadcast Netanyahu’s speech into Gaza, prompting controversy and outrage.
An Israeli government spokesperson said the prime minister’s office directed civilian elements to place loudspeakers on trucks at the Israeli side of the Gaza border to broadcast the speech.
The statement read: “As part of the public diplomacy effort, the prime minister’s office has directed civilian elements, in cooperation with the [Israel Defense Forces], to place loudspeakers on the backs of trucks on the Israeli side of the Gaza border so that prime minister Netanyahu’s historic UN general assembly speech will be heard in the Gaza Strip.”
In addition to the speaker systems, Netanyahu’s office claimed that the Israeli military had taken control of the telephones of Gaza residents “and Hamas members” to broadcast the speech – though there was no evidence from within the devastated Palestinian territory this actually took place.
“The prime minister has appealed to the residents of Gaza and made it clear that the war could end immediately upon the return of the hostages, the disarming of Hamas and the demilitarisation of the Strip … [and] stressed that whoever does so will live while those who do not will be hunted,” the government statement said.
Netanyahu also called on the world to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear and military programs.
“We removed an existential threat to Israel, and a mortal threat to the civilised world. We lifted a dark cloud that could have claimed millions and millions of lives, but ladies and gentlemen, we must remain vigilant,” he said.
“We must not allow Iran to rebuild its military nuclear capacities, Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. These stockpiles must be eliminated, and tomorrow, UN Security Council sanctions on Iran must be snapped back,” he added.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with residents saying conditions are getting worse. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and others have stayed put despite Israeli evacuation orders, citing fears about security and hunger.