NEW YORK – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says recognition of a Palestinian state is “sheer madness, it’s insane and we won’t do it”, adding that recognition by several other countries like the UK and France is “disgraceful”.
Netanyahu was addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday as dozens of delegates walked out of the room in New York in protest.
Netanyahu confirmed that loudspeakers stationed on the Gaza border in southern Israel were broadcasting his speech into Gaza strip.
Directly addressing the hostages being held by Hamas, he says: “We have not forgotten you – not even for a second. The people of Israel are with you”
His speech comes as Donald Trump says he will not allow Israel to annex the Israeli-occupied West Bank – he’s due to meet Netanyahu on Monday.
Israel is facing increasing global pressure to end the conflict and occupation of the West Bank.
Speaking to the UN on Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated his rejection of a future governing role for Hamas in Gaza and demanded it disarm.
Here are six main takeaways from his UN address:
- Netanyahu immediately honed in on “the curse of Iran’s terror axis”, which he suggested enveloped the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas
- He touted some of his country’s successes in targeting these groups over the past year, reeling off names of leaders who he said are now “gone”
- After speakers were set up along the Gaza border to broadcast his speech into the territory, Netanyahu addressed the remaining hostages directly, and pointed to a QR code on his lapel which he said contained the reason “why we must fight, and why we must win”
- The Israeli leader referred numerous times to placards, with one asking: “Who shouts death to America?” followed by multiple choice answers
- Netanyahu denied targeting civilians in Gaza, and said his country has dropped “millions of leaflets” urging the territory’s population to evacuate. This is in contrast to a UN report which found that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza
- Rounding off his speech, Netanyahu criticised the UK and France’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state, calling the move “sheer madness”
