Netanyahu Defends Israel at UN Amid Protests and Walkouts
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant address at the United Nations General Assembly, amid protests, walkouts, and rising international isolation over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This comes amid talks with US President Donald Trump, and a clear stance against the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Background and Context
The Israeli leader arrived in the US for the UN meetings and discussions with Trump about completing the war's objectives. The prime minister's agenda, as reported by Middle East Eye, included bringing back all hostages, defeating Hamas, and expanding the peace circle following recent victories. He also stated his intent to denounce leaders willing to grant statehood to the killers
at the heart of Israel.
Netanyahu's stance against a Palestinian state was reiterated prior to his US trip, with a commitment to represent the truth of Israeli citizens
at the UN, as reported by TASS.
Defiant Speech Amid Walkouts
Despite facing growing international isolation over his refusal to end the devastating war in Gaza, Netanyahu remained defiant. The South China Morning Post reported that he vowed to finish the job
against Hamas in Gaza during his speech. As he prepared to speak, dozens of delegates from multiple nations walked out of the UN General Assembly hall, marking a silent diplomatic rebuke.
Scores of diplomats also walked out during Netanyahu's speech, in protest of the ongoing crisis in Gaza and Israel's repeated attacks across the Middle East, as reported by the Middle East Eye.
International Responses
In response to Netanyahu's speech, the Middle East Eye reported that 34 states convened under the banner of The Hague Group to coordinate legal, diplomatic, and economic measures aimed at halting Israel’s actions in Gaza. The New York Times pointed out that Netanyahu’s defiant UN speech was aimed not just at the world, but also at his political base at home, reinforcing his unwillingness to bend to international pressure.
Hamas hailed the walkout during Netanyahu’s UN speech as a sign of Israel’s ‘isolation’, according to The Times of Israel. Meanwhile, IRNA English noted that the empty seats during the speech drew more global attention than the content of Netanyahu's address.
Conclusion
Netanyahu's UN address and the international reaction represent a critical juncture in the ongoing Middle East crisis. As world leaders gather to discuss the situation, the Middle East Eye highlighted the urgency for the UN to act on Gaza, warning of potential collapse. The world's response to this crisis, in the form of diplomatic and economic actions, may have significant implications for the region's future stability.