As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached the podium on 24/9, dozens of delegates exited the hall. Some shouted protests, while Netanyahu's delegation stood and applauded.
"Before I begin, a brief announcement: if there are any moral cowards who have not yet left the hall, please do so now," the Israeli Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Netanyahu criticized New York City Councilman Zohran Mamdani for calling him a "war criminal", and attacked Western European leaders for conceding to "antisemitic mobs". He also accused Turkey and Qatar of spreading misinformation about Israel.
"He sought to prevent me from coming here and silence me, but he cannot silence me or the truth," Prime Minister Netanyahu declared, referring to the New York City Councilman.
During his campaign for current office, Mamdani vowed to arrest Netanyahu on charges of war crimes if the Israeli leader came to New York. However, the councilman later stated he had no legal authority to do so. This week, the New York City Councilman described the Israeli Prime Minister as the "architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians".
"The simple truth is that Israel is not committing genocide; it is preventing it," Netanyahu stated at the United Nations.
The Israeli Prime Minister also accused the New York City Councilman of supporting the armed group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an allegation Mamdani has denied.
"I want to say to all those spreading lies about my country and our brave soldiers, whether they are sitting in this hall or in the office of the antisemitic New York City Councilman: you should be ashamed," Netanyahu said.
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Netanyahu speaking at the UN on 24/9. Photo: AP |
Similar to previous appearances at the UN, Prime Minister Netanyahu used props during his speech. He held up a pager related to an attack that killed and injured members of the armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2024. The Israeli leader also held up a starlink internet receiver, which he said he would leave for the Iranian delegation.
"So that when they defect, which he said would surely happen, they will be able to tell their stories freely on social media," Netanyahu said, adding that the current regime in Tehran being overthrown by its people was only a matter of time.
Responding to Netanyahu's speech, Councilman Mamdani accused the Israeli Prime Minister of once again "repeating baseless lies to cover up his acts of genocide against Palestinians".
"However, no lies can change the fact that he still has an active arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity," Mamdani stated.
Israel has been diplomatically isolated since it launched its war in the Gaza Strip in response to an attack by the armed group Hamas. Prime Minister Netanyahu cannot travel to several countries after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for him and Israel's then-defense minister in 2024.
Pham Giang (Reuters, AFP)
