Netanyahu Claims Israel Prevented Genocide in Hostile UN Address

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the U.N. General Assembly that Israel had “prevented genocide,” using a combative address marked by boos and a walkout by dozens of delegations to launch sweeping attacks on critics of his government.

As diplomats left the chamber, Netanyahu opened by challenging any remaining opponents to follow them out.

“Before I begin, just a quick announcement: if there are any other moral cowards who haven't yet left this hall, please do so now!”

Genocide Accusations Rejected

Netanyahu placed Israel’s conduct in Gaza at the center of his defense, rejecting allegations of genocide and arguing that Israeli measures to warn civilians were evidence of the opposite.

He said Israel had sent millions of text messages, made millions of phone calls, and dropped millions of leaflets warning Palestinians to leave combat areas.

“Israel didn't commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide!”

Netanyahu also cited what he described as one million polio vaccinations and the distribution of 2 million tons of food into Gaza.

He called the genocide accusation “the greatest lie of the century” and accused Israel’s critics of reversing the roles of victim and aggressor.

Europe and Türkiye Targeted

The Israeli leader broadened the speech into an attack on governments and political figures he accused of fueling hostility toward Israel.

Netanyahu said leaders in Western Europe had “chosen to succumb to the antisemitic mobs,” while separately accusing Britain and France of hypocrisy over accusations of colonialism against Israel.

He then singled out Türkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, calling Türkiye the latest “super spreader of antisemitic lies.”

Netanyahu accused Erdogan of repeatedly calling for Israel’s destruction and claiming that Erdogan wished to rule Jerusalem.

“No, sir, you won't. This is our country, our city, our eternal capital,” Netanyahu said.

Walkout Becomes Part of the Speech

The departures from the General Assembly hall became a recurring theme in Netanyahu’s remarks.

He claimed Israel was defending some of the same countries whose delegations had walked out and said some foreign leaders privately thanked Israel for striking Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Netanyahu also attacked protesters and absent delegations over Iran, questioning why they had not shown similar outrage over the Iranian government’s treatment of its own population.

The Iranian delegation was not present during the speech. A portrait of Qassem Soleimani remained at their seats.

'Israel and America Saved Civilization'

Netanyahu portrayed the confrontation with Iran as one of his government's defining achievements.

He recalled drawing a red line over Iran’s nuclear program at the U.N. 14 years earlier and said Israel had fulfilled its pledge to stop Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

He said Israel and the U.S. had together crushed Iran’s army, navy, air force and nuclear facilities.

Netanyahu described striking Iran’s nuclear sites as difficult operationally but an easy political decision, arguing that failure to act would have left Israel facing destruction.

He repeatedly praised U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him Israel’s greatest partner in what Netanyahu described as a wider struggle.

“Israel and America acted together to save civilization,” he said.

A Beeper and a Starlink Device

Netanyahu used physical props during the address.

Holding up a beeper, he invoked the campaign against Hezbollah.

“You remember the beepers? Remember these things? Remember them? Well, I can tell you this, Hezbollah certainly remembers them.”

He later displayed a Starlink communications device while discussing Iran, saying such technology could help Iranians evade government censorship.

Netanyahu said he would leave the device for the U.N. president to give to the Iranian delegation, adding that they could use it if they “inevitably defect.”

Attacks on Media and Social Media

Netanyahu described what he called an “eighth front” in Israel’s war: a battle over information in traditional and social media.

He accused foreign governments of spending billions to spread what he described as falsehoods about Israel.

Qatar, he said, had funded American universities and media organizations, including Al Jazeera, as part of an effort to turn younger audiences against Israel, the U.S. and the West.

He then linked Türkiye to the same information battle.

New York Mayor Also Drawn In

Netanyahu also attacked New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of contributing to an environment in which Jews no longer felt safe in the city.

He cited Mamdani’s associations and alleged positions on Hamas-linked figures, Hasan Piker and Palestinian activists, while also criticizing social media activity attributed to Mamdani’s wife.

Netanyahu said Mamdani had tried to prevent him from coming to New York.

“You tried to silence me? Well, you can't silence me. You can't silence the truth.”

October 7 and the Wider War

Netanyahu returned repeatedly to the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, accusing Hamas of murdering Israelis who had provided employment to Palestinians and of burning babies alive.

He compared the scale of the attack relative to Israel’s population with 40,000 Americans being killed in less than 24 hours, calling it the equivalent of “16 9/11s.”

Netanyahu described the IDF as “the most moral army in the world” and argued that Israel had fought because it had no alternative.

He also dismissed international focus on settler violence, portraying it as disproportionate to attacks against Israelis.

Syria and Territorial Claims

Netanyahu addressed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa directly over the Golan Heights.

He said Jewish ties to the territory dated to biblical times.

“Mr. al-Sharaa, you should know the Jews have been on the Golan Heights since the days of Moses. You can read it in the Bible.”

Netanyahu also referred to Judea as the historic homeland of the Jewish people while discussing attacks on Israelis in the occupied West Bank.