UN General Assembly: Drama as Delegates Walk Out on Netanyahu Speech, "Darkest Day," Video Trends
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), denouncing Western allies as global criticism over the nearly two-year war mounts
- Speaking at UNGA in New York on Friday, September 26, the increasingly isolated Israeli leader railed against the “disgraceful decision” by some Western countries in recent days to recognise a Palestinian state
- Netanyahu, who is facing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza, delivered his speech to a sparse audience because many delegates left the General Assembly hall in protest
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering global affairs.
New York, USA - Facing down a mass walkout and mounting diplomatic pressure, Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Friday, September 26, to “finish the job” as he defied growing isolation over his military’s devastating assault on the Gaza Strip.
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As reported by NBC News, Netanyahu was met by a mix of jeers and applause as he spoke to a half-empty room at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, USA.
Source: Getty Images
Delegates oppose Netanyahu at UNGA
He instead directed his address to Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, Hamas fighters battling his troops and the host of world leaders who have moved to recognize Palestine as a state.
Netanyahu hit out at "false charge of genocide" and said: "If Hamas agrees to demands, war could end."
Netanyahu held a map of the region and crossed out the various threats he said had been eliminated, such as Hezbollah and Iran's nuclear capabilities.
He said:
"Israel rebounded from its darkest day to deliver one of the most stunning military comebacks in history."
The trending video can be watched below, courtesy of Fox News:
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'Gap widens between Israel, int'l community'
Meanwhile, Alon Liel, a former director general (DG) of Israel’s foreign ministry, explained that the departure of many delegates when Netanyahu took the floor at the UNGA highlights the widening gap between Israel and the international community.
Liel told Al Jazeera:
“It was heartbreaking to see how isolated Israelis are internationally … it showed the huge gap between Israel and the rest of the world and between the Jewish world and the rest of the world. So it was a very difficult scene to watch."
Source: Getty Images
Liel stated that Netanyahu wanted to deliver the clear message that Israel is not interested in peace with the Palestinians.
He said:
“But this is the biggest mistake that he makes because the consensus today behind a Palestinian state is growing, and there is international determination behind it, so it is only stressing how far away we are from the international community."
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Netanyahu condemns UK
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Netanyahu fiercely criticised the United Kingdom (UK’s) formal recognition of Palestine, describing the move as “an absurd prize for terrorism” and warning of diplomatic retaliation.
Netanyahu divulged that Israel would “fight both in the UN and in all the other fronts against the slanderous propaganda aimed at us, and against the calls to create a Palestinian state that will endanger our existence and constitute an absurd prize for terrorism”.
The Israeli foreign ministry echoed the sentiment in a post on X.
Source: Legit.ng
