New York, Sept 27: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly that Israel would never accept the creation of a Palestinian state, a stance he said was backed by most Israelis, the BBC reported.
He dismissed a UN commission’s conclusion accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, calling it “baseless.” The BBC stated that he also rejected claims by UN agencies that Israel is intentionally blocking aid to Gaza, despite a UN-backed body confirming famine in Gaza City last month.
Before the speech, Netanyahu’s office ordered trucks fitted with loudspeakers to broadcast his remarks live across Gaza. He claimed Israeli intelligence had hacked phones inside the territory to stream his speech directly, though BBC contacts in Gaza said their devices were unaffected.
Palestinian president refuses Israel's plans to occupy parts of...
Netanyahu addressed Israeli hostages in Gaza during the speech, vowing that Israel would not rest until all were brought home.
According to the BBC, about 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive. Some Gazans reacted angrily to Netanyahu’s broadcast, saying it further humiliated civilians who have lived under siege for nearly two years.
Netanyahu also spoke about Israel’s regional diplomacy, claiming progress on a de-escalation deal with Syria and urging Lebanon’s government to rein in Hezbollah.
His remarks quickly drew backlash from Israeli opposition figures. Yair Lapid, the opposition leader, said Netanyahu’s address was full of gimmicks and worsened Israel’s diplomatic position. Yair Golan of Israel’s Democrats party called the loudspeaker stunt childish propaganda, added the BBC.
A day earlier, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas used his speech at the UN to urge global leaders to push for a peace plan for Israel and Palestine. Shortly after Netanyahu spoke, Donald Trump told reporters he believed “a deal on Gaza” was close, though he offered no details.
The BBC highlighted that verifying claims from either side remains challenging because international journalists are banned from independently entering Gaza, except under restricted access with Israeli forces.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza began after Hamas attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 65,549 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since then, the BBC reported.
