Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, vowing to continue military operations. The speech took place as delegates from several countries walked out of the hall as the prime minister took the stage.
Netanyahu used the address to defend Israel’s response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks and to focus on the security threat posed by Iran. The prime minister stated that Israel would "continue to defend our state" and thanked President Donald Trump for his "bold leadership." The trip to New York was shortened to allow Netanyahu to return to Israel for the holiday of Sukkot.
The address included a response to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has labeled Netanyahu a "war criminal." Netanyahu accused Mamdani of being "antisemitic" and spreading "lies." While the mayor has acknowledged he lacks the legal authority to detain the prime minister, nearly two dozen people were taken into police custody during protests in New York on Thursday.
Netanyahu’s remarks followed a series of speeches from other world leaders critical of Israeli policy. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the scale of Israel’s military response was unjustified, while French President Emmanuel Macron criticized violations in the West Bank. King Abdullah of Jordan called for sanctions against Israel, citing the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The scale of the political impact is reflected in the dozens of U.N. delegates—including representatives from Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Qatar, and France—who walked out in protest. Domestically, the speech served as a platform for Netanyahu to demonstrate his standing just weeks before an Israeli election. In New York, the arrest of nearly two dozen protesters, including House Democratic nominee Darializa Avila Chevalier, highlights the domestic legal and social friction resulting from the visit.
The knock-on effects include a deepening of the diplomatic divide between Israel and several allies who are calling for sanctions. The prime minister’s public alignment with Donald Trump, whom he thanked for "bold leadership," sets a precedent for how Israeli leadership may navigate U.S. relations. What happens next includes the continuation of Israeli military operations, the holiday of Sukkot, and the upcoming Israeli national elections.