Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to "finish the job" in Gaza and dismissed the idea of recognizing a Palestinian state as "insane" as multiple delegations exited during his address to the United Nations.
Days after several nations, including the UK, France, Canada, and Australia, diverged from the U.S. by endorsing Palestinian statehood, Netanyahu rejected the two-state solution, calling it "sheer madness" and stating, "We won’t do it."
"Granting the Palestinians a state so close to Jerusalem after October 7 would be like giving al-Qaeda a state near New York City after 9/11," he said. Currently, 157 out of 193 UN member states recognize Palestine as independent.
According to a report by the Washington Post, more than 100 diplomats from over 50 countries left the hall as Netanyahu began speaking.
His speech followed comments by Donald Trump, who said he would prevent Netanyahu from annexing parts of the West Bank in response to international support for Palestinian statehood. "I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank... It’s not going to happen," Trump stated.
Netanyahu's political allies have previously pushed to annex as much as 82% of the West Bank, territory officially administered by the Palestinian Authority. Concerns have been raised that the U.S. might support such measures.
However, Netanyahu did not discuss the contentious proposal on Friday, with his office indicating he would only respond after meeting with Trump on Monday. Addressing nations that recognized Palestine, he said, "You didn’t do something right. You did something wrong, horribly wrong."
"Your shameful decision will incite more violence against Jews and civilians everywhere," he added.
During his address, Netanyahu insisted Israel would press forward with its operation in Gaza City, despite criticism that it would deepen the humanitarian crisis—actions which international criminal court prosecutors have labeled as potential war crimes.
"The last of Hamas is trapped in Gaza City," he said, emphasizing that Israel must "finish the job" to prevent repeated attacks like those of October 7.
"That’s why we aim to act as swiftly as possible."
Speaking at the 80th anniversary of the UN General Assembly, Netanyahu rejected allegations of genocide in Gaza, asking, "Would a nation accused of genocide warn civilians to leave danger zones?"
The speech faced significant opposition and was delivered to a largely empty chamber in the assembly’s main hall, which can hold 1,800 people. Reports noted that while U.S. and UK delegations remained, they were represented by lower-ranking diplomats rather than senior officials.
Netanyahu asserted that foreign leaders who "publicly criticize us privately express gratitude. They acknowledge Israel’s intelligence efforts in preventing attacks."
Read next
"Indonesia school collapse: rescue efforts conclude with 67 fatalities"
Search Ends After Indonesian School Collapse Leaves Dozens Dead
Indonesian rescuers concluded their search on Tuesday for victims trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed Islamic boarding school in East Java, after recovering more than 60 bodies, authorities confirmed.
The tragedy in the town of Sidoarjo struck last week when
"French PM makes last-ditch effort to save government as crisis deepens – Europe updates"
France's Political Standoff Continues as Prime Minister Seeks Cross-Party Support
France remains at a political stalemate as the outgoing prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, makes a final attempt to gather support from rival parties for a new government.
President Emmanuel Macron assigned Lecornu, 39, to form a government in
"Macron calls emergency talks with parties to swiftly pick new PM"
Emmanuel Macron has called upon the leaders of several political factions to his office, urging them to demonstrate "collective responsibility" as he seeks to appoint a new prime minister amid growing political turmoil.
All parties except Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally, the largest opposition group, and