Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his address to the UN General Assembly to defend Israel's strikes against Iran as a matter of national survival and describe the violence in the West Bank as the work of few "juvenile delinquents" and reject accusations of genocide in Gaza as "the greatest lie of the century."
"Devastating Iran's nuclear facilities was hard…" Mr. Netanyahu stated. "But for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I've ever had to make as Prime Minister. Because if we hadn't done it, we'd all be dead."
Many delegations left the General Assembly Hall as the Prime Minister took the podium, just hours after Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who addressed the gathering via video after being denied a visa to enter the United States.
It has been nearly three years since the 7 October attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, which led, according to Israeli sources, to the death of over 1,200 Israelis, the abduction of 251 hostages, and the subsequent launch of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. Those operations have resulted in the death of over 73,000 Palestinians according to Gaza health authorities, with many thousands missing under rubble.
Rejecting accusations that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, Mr. Netanyahu said the Government's actions there sought to defeat Hamas while protecting civilians. "Here's the simple truth. Israel didn't commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide."
