Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday (Sept 26), declaring that his country would continue its military campaign in Gaza until Hamas is completely destroyed. He also condemned Western nations that have recognized Palestinian statehood.

“We will not commit national suicide simply because you lack the courage to stand up to hostile media and anti-Semitic crowds calling for Israeli blood,” Netanyahu said in New York, referring to the decisions of France, the UK, Canada, and others to recognize Palestine. To Hamas, he stressed, Israel’s message is that “killing Jews will never bring any reward.”

Several delegates walked out before Netanyahu began, leaving the hall largely empty.

In his remarks, Israel’s longest-serving leader highlighted his military’s successes against Iranian-backed militants and operations targeting Tehran over the past year. He said Israel wished to end the Gaza war “as soon as possible,” but would not stop until Hamas was either defeated or surrendered.

Netanyahu also revisited the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, noting that the perpetrators even recorded their actions to broadcast publicly.

However, he made almost no mention of the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, except to claim that Israel was trying to minimize civilian casualties. Netanyahu strongly denied accusations that his government was committing genocide or enforcing a policy of starvation.

The central focus of his speech was the hostages still held by Hamas. He said Israel had installed loudspeakers along the Gaza border and even taken control of the territory’s mobile phone system so that his speech could be broadcast live.

For much of the international community, however, Israel’s campaign in Gaza is seen less as a war on Hamas and more as a humanitarian catastrophe, with Palestinians enduring violence and hunger from what many view as a disproportionate response by a much stronger neighbor. Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry has reported around 65,000 deaths, while much of the territory is now uninhabitable.

Netanyahu portrayed the war against Hamas as a vital effort to ensure Israel’s survival against Iran’s drive to eliminate the Jewish state and incite global jihad.

He stressed that Israel must continue opposing Iran’s nuclear and missile programs while also eliminating Hamas to prevent a repeat of the October 7 attacks. According to him, Palestine cannot be recognized as a state because it has “never accepted the legitimacy of a Jewish state beside it.”

Regarding the General Assembly walkouts, Netanyahu dismissed them as a blend of anti-Semitism and hollow moral posturing that would fade once Israel secures victory. He even suggested that after the war, Syria and Lebanon might recognize Israel, and one day Iran’s regime would collapse, restoring old ties between the two nations.

At present, Netanyahu has few international allies apart from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has consistently backed Israel’s policies. On Monday, Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Trump at the White House, where the postwar future of Gaza is expected to be a key subject of discussion.