Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told world leaders on Friday that his nation “must finish the job” against Hamas in Gaza, giving a defiant speech despite growing international isolation over his refusal to end the devastating war.
“Western leaders may have buckled under the pressure," he said. “And I guarantee you one thing: Israel won’t.”
Netanyahu denounced Western countries for embracing Palestinian statehood.
“Your disgraceful decision will encourage terrorism against Jews and against innocent people everywhere,” he told the UN General Assembly in New York.
As the Israeli leader spoke, unintelligible shouts echoed around the hall, while applause came from supporters in the gallery. Seats allotted to the United States — which has backed Netanyahu in his campaign against Hamas — and the United Kingdom were filled by low-level diplomats instead of senior ambassadors or officials.
Many delegates exited the hall when he took stage.
Netanyahu used the international community’s biggest platform to cast Gaza as the lone remaining front in a wider war, listing recent military missions by Israel to target its enemies and contain threats to its security in Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.
Those efforts have “opened up possibilities for peace,” he said, noting that Israel has begun negotiations with Syria to reach security arrangements with the new government in Damascus.
Thousands of protesters against Israel's war in Gaza marched in New York City on Friday as Netanyahu visited to address the UN General Assembly.
Protesters waved Palestinian flags, wore keffiyeh scarves and carried banners reading "Free Palestine, stop starving Gaza" and "Arms embargo now," video showed.
They gathered in Times Square, across town from the United Nations building, before marching to the UN.
"Netanyahu you can't hide, we charge you with genocide," they chanted.
