United Nations, September 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended Israel’s military campaign against Iran and rejected allegations that his government has committed genocide in Gaza, delivering a combative address to the UN General Assembly amid a walkout by delegations from several countries.
Defending the Israeli and US strikes on Iran, Netanyahu said Israel had acted because of what he described as an existential threat.
“If we hadn’t done it, we’d all be dead,” he said, adding that Israel and the United States had acted together “not only to protect ourselves, but to save civilization”.
Netanyahu praised US President Donald Trump as Israel’s “greatest partner” in what he described as a battle against its adversaries. He said Israel was fighting on seven fronts — against Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iran, militias in Iraq and Syria, and Palestinian militants in the West Bank.
As Netanyahu approached the podium, delegations from several countries walked out. He called them “cowards”, while supporters in the gallery responded in Hebrew with “Am Yisrael Chai”, meaning “The Nation of Israel Lives”. The walkout was also reported during his address by Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Turning to Gaza, Netanyahu rejected accusations that Israel was carrying out genocide, calling the allegation “the greatest lie of the century”. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who spoke before him, had accused Israel of conducting a “genocidal war” in Gaza.
Netanyahu cited Israel’s delivery of humanitarian assistance and vaccination efforts as part of his argument, asking whether a state committing genocide would have facilitated polio vaccinations and the delivery of food into Gaza.
His comments came as the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains a major focus of the UN General Assembly. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said Palestinians in Gaza have faced a scale of killing and destruction unprecedented in his tenure and called for humanitarian aid to flow and international law to be respected.
Netanyahu also criticised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, describing him as a “tyrant” and accusing him of hosting Hamas leaders. He accused Western governments of yielding to what he called antisemitic protests and said many countries were afraid to defend freedom.
On violence involving Israeli settlers in the West Bank, Netanyahu described the perpetrators as a “handful of juvenile delinquents” and said Israel was taking action because it was “a country of law”.
Netanyahu’s address followed a week of intense international focus on the wars involving Israel, Iran and Gaza during the UN General Assembly’s high-level debate.
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