Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday delivered a fiery speech at the UNGA, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a fresh wave of strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Netanyahu’s remarks came amid rising tensions following a year of conflict with Hamas, and new reports of attacks involving Iran-backed groups, including Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi forces.
Netanyahu started his speech with clear intentions stating, “Here’s the truth; Israel seeks peace, Israel yearns for peace, Israel has made peace and will make peace again.”
In his address to the UN, Netanyahu rejected recent US-led efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, making clear that Israel would continue its military campaign until all its objectives were achieved.
“Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely. And that’s exactly what we’re doing … we’ll continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met,” Netanyahu said.
He further criticised global leaders for “lies and slander” against Israel, stating that the ongoing conflict was reminiscent of the Holocaust.
The prime minister reaffirmed Israel’s stance on Iran, calling for the reimposition of sanctions to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Netanyahu issued a straight warning to Iran, saying, “I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran; If you strike us, we will strike you.”
He emphasised that Israel’s reach extended to “every corner of Iran and the Middle East.”
Explaining about the situation with Lebanon, Netanyahu maintained that Israel was not at war with the Lebanese people, but with Hezbollah, which he accused of “hijacking” the country. He condemned the militant group for launching rockets from civilian areas, including schools and hospitals, while also vowing that Israel would not stop until its citizens in the north could return home safely.
Regarding the war in Gaza, Netanyahu reiterated that Israel had no intention of resettling the territory but settle an establishment of a civilian administration focused on peaceful coexistence.
He boasted of Israeli military achievements since the conflict began on October 7, claiming that the IDF had killed or captured more than half of Hamas’ fighters.
Netanyahu also reflected on the potential for peace in the Middle East, expressing hope for a future agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. ‘Israel was on the verge of historic diplomatic agreement with Saudi Arabia,’ Netanyahu said.
Despite the ongoing conflict, he pointed to the Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates as a model for peace and suggested that a similar deal with Saudi Arabia would benefit both countries’ economies and security.
The prime minister closed his speech with a scathing critique of the United Nations, describing it as a “house of darkness” where antisemitism and hypocrisy reign.
Netanyahu said, “What hypocrisy. What a double standard. What a joke, its not about Gaza, its about Israel and its very existence.”
He vowed that Israel would emerge victorious in its battle, stating, “Israel will win this battle because we don’t have a choice.”
Netanyahu’s speech heard some cheers from the public gallery, while several world leaders walked out in protest as he took the stage.
After Netanyahu’s speech the Israeli military claimed it had struck Hezbollah’s “central headquarters,” reportedly located beneath residential buildings in the Dahieh suburb of southern Beirut. This escalation followed multiple explosions in the Lebanese capital, where large plumes of smoke were seen rising from Hezbollah’s stronghold.