Frustration over Israel’s military siege and US President Donald Trump’s unwillingness to rein Netanyahu in has spilled into the open at the annual New York gathering, where, in a dramatic shift, Australia, Britain, Canada and France, and several other nations embraced a Palestinian state.
They said such action was needed to preserve the prospect for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and help bring the war to a close.
Netanyahu followed to the rostrum Arab and Muslim leaders who this week accused Israel of genocide and war crimes in Gaza. The Israeli government has vehemently denied this.
The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in the Gaza war. Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction and denies committing war crimes in Gaza. Netanyahu rebutted on Friday what he called “the false charge of genocide”.
Hamas has offered to release all remaining hostages – only about 20 of whom are said to be alive out of a total of 48 – in exchange for Israel agreeing to end the war and withdrawing from Gaza.
NETANYAHU ADDRESSES HOSTAGES FROM ROSTRUM
“Much of the world no longer remembers October 7. But we remember,” Netanyahu said. Speaking in Hebrew, the Israeli leader directed his remarks to the hostages still held in Gaza: “We’ve not forgotten you – not even for a second.”
Near the start of his speech, Netanyahu said he had loudspeakers placed at the Israeli side of the Gaza border to broadcast the address into the Palestinian enclave in hopes that hostages held there would hear his vow that they would not be forgotten.
The prime minister’s office also said the Israeli military had taken over the mobile phones of Gaza residents and Hamas operatives and that his speech would be broadcast live through the mobile devices.
“The Prime Minister has appealed to the residents of Gaza and made it clear that the war could end immediately upon the return of the hostages, the disarming of Hamas and the demilitarisation of the Strip,” read the message on Facebook.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu stressed that whoever does so will live while those who do not will be hunted.”
On Thursday, Trump told reporters that he thought a deal to end the war and release the remaining hostages held by Hamas was “close” – though he offered no explanation for his optimism about overcoming a months-long impasse in negotiations.
The right-wing Israeli leader, who spoke by phone to Trump on Thursday and will visit the White House on Monday, is under mounting pressure from the hostages’ families and, according to public opinion polls, a war-weary Israeli public.
Netanyahu has insisted that the fight must go on until Hamas is completely dismantled. He is wary at the same time of losing the backing of far-right members in his fragile governing coalition if he softens his approach.
