Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a speech at the UN General Assembly on 26 September in which he said that Israel categorically denies the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state. He said such a prospect poses a threat to Israel’s security and undermines its national interests.
Netanyahu stressed that military action against the US and EU-recognised terrorist group Hamas will continue until the threat coming from it is completely eliminated.
The prime minister’s remarks came shortly after France, Britain and several other states recognised Palestine as an independent state. Calling the decision a “shameful stigma”, Netanyahu said: “Do you know what message the leaders who recognised a Palestinian state this week sent to the Palestinians? It’s a very clear message: killing Jews pays off.” “Israel will not allow you to impose a terrorist state on it. We will defend ourselves and our future despite outside pressure,” Netanyahu stressed.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas made the address via video link on 25 September. He condemned the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and said anti-Semitism was unacceptable. However, Netanyahu in his speech called the Palestinian Authority “corrupt” and questioned its role in potential Gaza settlement talks.
The topic of annexation of the West Bank, which has been discussed in the Israeli government, was not addressed in Netanyahu’s speech. US President Donald Trump, who is pushing his own plan to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict linked to disarming Hamas, warned on 25 September that he would not allow the West Bank to be annexed.
Despite disagreements with Trump on individual issues, Netanyahu stressed the importance of cooperation with Washington and praised Trump, who said on 26 September that preliminary agreements on a Gaza ceasefire may have been reached.
The Iranian delegation boycotted the Israeli prime minister’s speech, placing pictures on their table of victims of Israeli airstrikes on Iran in June this year. During Netanyahu’s speech, several delegations defiantly left the UN General Assembly meeting, but representatives of many countries greeted his speech with applause. Demonstrations were held outside the UN building calling for the arrest of the Israeli prime minister on war crimes charges.
Netanyahu rejected accusations against Israel of genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, noting that the army warns civilians of impending strikes. At the same time, international organisations note that the mass displacement of the population of Gaza qualifies as a violation of humanitarian law. According to the UN, almost all residents of the sector were forced to leave their homes.
Concluding his speech, Netanyahu switched to Hebrew and addressed the hostages and their families: “we have not forgotten you for a moment. Israel will strive for the return of all of you – the living and the dead.” Netanyahu’s speech was broadcast in Gaza over loudspeakers in the hope that the hostages would hear his words.