Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday rejected accusations that his country is committing genocide in Gaza or using starvation as a tactic, insisting that Israel is providing food to the territory’s residents.
“Those who peddle the blood libels of genocide against Israel are no better than those who peddled the blood libels against Jews in the Middle Ages,” Netanyahu told the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He said Israel has “crushed the bulk” of Hamas’s armed capabilities and is working to complete the campaign “as fast as possible.” Netanyahu also highlighted what he described as a series of strategic victories over the past year, including operations targeting Iran’s nuclear program and the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon.
Netanyahu’s speech, delivered as the first of the day at the annual UN General Assembly, drew a mixed response. Delegates staged a mass walkout, while invited supporters in the audience applauded his address.
The Prime Minister called on the international community to recognise Israel’s actions as defensive and justified, framing them within the broader context of counterterrorism and national security.
