Maintaining Hard-Line Stance Amid International Pressure

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his determination to complete military operations against Hamas in Gaza during his speech at the UN General Assembly. At the 80th UN General Assembly held at UN headquarters on September 26 (local time), Netanyahu emphasized that "while Western leaders may yield to pressure, Israel absolutely will not."

Netanyahu's speech took place amid fierce international backlash. As he took the podium, delegations from multiple countries simultaneously left the conference hall, and his speech was met with both jeers and applause, revealing stark divisions of opinion.

Condemning Palestinian Statehood Recognition Decisions

Netanyahu strongly protested recent decisions by Australia, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and other nations to recognize Palestine's independent statehood. He claimed that "your shameful decisions will encourage terrorism against Jews and innocent people around the world."

Incomprehensible shouts echoed through the speech venue, while some sections erupted in applause. The U.S. delegation, which has supported Israel's Hamas elimination operations, remained seated, though both the U.S. and UK sent lower-level diplomats rather than their top foreign policy officials or UN ambassadors.

Netanyahu stated that "anti-Semitism does not disappear easily. In fact, it never disappears at all," characterizing his critics as anti-Semites. He has routinely invoked anti-Semitism when addressing critical voices.

Emphasizing Trump Support While Envisioning Middle East Realignment

Netanyahu repeatedly mentioned President Donald Trump during his speech, elevating him as a key ally for his political and military course. He suggested that changes in the Middle East region had created new opportunities, revealing that Israel had begun negotiations with Syria's new government for a security agreement.

As in past UN speeches, Netanyahu utilized visual aids. He displayed a Middle East map titled "THE CURSE" and marked it with thick markers to illustrate his arguments. He also wore a hostage badge featuring a QR code linking to a site about the October 7 Hamas attacks, with his entire delegation wearing identical badges.

Attempting Direct Speech Broadcast to Gaza Strip

The Israeli government arranged for Netanyahu's speech to be heard in Gaza and surrounding areas. The Israeli military installed loudspeakers along the Israel-Gaza border to broadcast the speech, and the Prime Minister's Office announced it would conduct an "unprecedented operation" to take control of mobile phones belonging to Gaza residents and Hamas operatives to broadcast the speech in real-time.

However, it was not immediately confirmed whether these measures were actually implemented or how effective they were. AP correspondents found no clear evidence of Netanyahu's speech being broadcast through mobile phones inside Gaza.

Israel's Deepening Isolation

Netanyahu's annual UN General Assembly speeches have always attracted attention and often accompanied protests, sometimes serving as a stage for dramatic claims. However, this time presents a more precarious situation than ever for the Israeli leader.

Netanyahu faces international isolation, war crime allegations, and pressure to end the conflict he has continued to expand. This speech provided an opportunity to present his position against these pressures on the international community's largest stage.

The European Union is considering tariffs and sanctions against Israel, and as several major nations recognize Palestinian statehood, Israel's diplomatic position continues to narrow.