Netanyahu at UN: ‘Israel prevented genocide’ as delegates walk out
Türkiye’s delegate later told the assembly that the walkout was a “resounding diplomatic condemnation” of Netanyahu’s policies.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the UN General Assembly that “Israel didn’t commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide”, after delegates walked out of the hall as the speech began.
Netanyahu spoke in New York on 24 September, the third day of the annual general debate. As delegates left, the prime minister told the hall: “If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t yet left this hall, please do so now.”
The UN’s summary of the session does not say how many delegations walked out.
Hours earlier, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had told the assembly of a “genocidal war that has created an unprecedented human tragedy” in the Gaza Strip.
Abbas appeared by pre-recorded video after being denied a visa to enter the United States.
Netanyahu dismissed accusations of genocide in Gaza as “the greatest lie of the century”, saying Israel alerted Palestinians with phone calls, text messages and leaflets before attacks.
“What genocidal regime gives a million polio vaccinations to the enemy’s population?” the prime minister asked.
Striking Iran’s nuclear facilities was “one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make as Prime Minister”, Netanyahu said, “because if we hadn’t done it, we’d all be dead”.
Recalling 7 October, Netanyahu said “Hamas terrorists committed the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust” and likened the day to “16 9/11s”.
Netanyahu described West Bank settlers as “peaceful”, “law-abiding” and “honourable”, and said the violence blamed on them was the work of “juvenile delinquents” who threw stones, chopped olive trees or “occasionally” lit fires.
“Remember the beepers?” the prime minister asked, holding one up. “Hezbollah certainly remembers them.”
Netanyahu held up a Starlink communication device, offering to leave it behind for Iranian delegates to tell their stories when they defect.
The prime minister said Jews felt unsafe in New York under Mayor Zohran Mamdani: “Mr. Mamdani, you tried to stop me from coming here.”
Netanyahu accused Qatar of brainwashing young minds through Al-Jazeera, and Türkiye of hosting Hamas and wanting to take over Syria.
Replying later in the day, Türkiye’s delegate rejected the “baseless malicious allegations” and called Netanyahu a leader subject to an arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Qatar’s representative said the accusations were not even worth refuting.
Iran’s representative spoke of “the notorious Prime Minister of the Israeli regime” and said the UN was not founded as a platform for war criminals.
The UN’s own news service noted that the 7 October attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, nearly three years ago, killed over 1,200 Israelis, according to Israeli sources.
Gaza health authorities say Israel’s military operations since then have killed over 73,000 Palestinians.
The general debate continues on 25 September.