UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the world stage of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday to deliver a fiery, defiant address that launched a frontal assault on the international push for a Palestinian state, a move that was met with a dramatic mass walkout of over 100 diplomats and left the hall visibly fractured.
In a speech meant to project resolve amid mounting international isolation, the Israeli leader sharply denounced key Western allies—including the UK, France, Canada, and Australia—for their recent decisions to recognize Palestinian statehood.
“This week, the leaders of these countries unconditionally recognized a Palestinian state,” Netanyahu said, referring to the diplomatic flurry that has intensified since the war in Gaza began. “You know what message the leaders who recognize the Palestinian state this week sent to the Palestinians? It’s a very clear message: murdering Jews pays off.”
Netanyahu did not stop there, calling the very idea of a post-Gaza two-state solution “sheer madness” and “insane,” famously claiming, “Giving the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem after October 7 is like giving al-Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11.”
The Silence of the Empty Seats
The most striking moment of the session was the silent, coordinated protest that began as Netanyahu approached the podium. Scores of delegates from more than 50 countries, primarily from the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Global South, rose from their seats and streamed out of the General Assembly hall, leaving the grand chamber peppered with empty chairs.
The visual act of mass repudiation, which stood in stark contrast to the rousing applause Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had received the previous day, highlighted the widening chasm between Israel and the international community over the conduct of the nearly two-year war in Gaza and the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the U.S. delegation remained seated in solidarity with Israel, its representation, along with that of the UK, was notably junior-level, a subtle yet unmistakable sign of diplomatic discomfort even among its closest allies.
Finishing the Job: A Vow of Unilateral Action
Netanyahu, currently facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, was unapologetic in his stance that Israel would “finish the job” in Gaza to eliminate the final remnants of Hamas, regardless of the humanitarian crisis or global pressure.
His speech served as a powerful declaration of an unwavering, unilateral policy. He explicitly vowed to block any external effort to impose a Palestinian state on Israel, stating, “Israel will not allow you to shove a terror state down our throats.”
The prime minister even turned his speech into a broadcast, announcing that his remarks were being played on loudspeakers positioned at the Gaza border and, allegedly, streamed to mobile phones across the territory. He used this platform to issue a stark ultimatum to Hamas: “Lay down your arms. Free the hostages. All of them. If you do, you will live. If you don’t, Israel will hunt you down.”
The speech, punctuated by boos and cheers, was less an exercise in diplomacy and more a political rallying cry. It firmly cemented the Israeli government’s position as being at direct loggerheads with a growing international consensus, signaling a protracted diplomatic battle ahead that could further isolate Israel on the world stage.