Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stern warning to Iran, and the entire Middle East during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. In a direct message to the Iranian regime, Netanyahu declared, “If you strike us, we will strike you,” asserting that there is no place in Iran that Israel cannot reach. He emphasised that Israel’s military capabilities extend across the entire Middle East, saying “There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that’s true of the entire Middle East.”
In his speech, Netanyahu also reiterated his government’s stance on Hamas, the Palestine resistance group in control of Gaza. He insisted that Hamas “has got to go” and that the group would have no role in Gaza’s future, stating that any ceasefire would only allow Hamas to regroup and attack Israel again. “Total victory” over Hamas remains Israel’s goal, he vowed, dismissing any possibility of coexistence with the group. “If Hamas stays in power, it will regroup… and attack Israel again and again and again… So Hamas has got to go,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu also addressed the ongoing operations against Hezbollah, the Lebanese group. He rejected calls for a truce, including a 21-day ceasefire proposal from France and the United States, stating that Israel would continue its operations until its objectives were met. “As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice,” he said, justifying Israel’s actions in Lebanon that have so far killed over 700 people, many of whom women and children, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s speech was also marked by sharp criticism of the United Nations, which he described as a “contemptuous farce” due to its perceived bias against Israel. He accused the UN of unfairly treating Israel and allowing anti-Semitic sentiment to persist.
Netanyahu began his address by promising to counter the “slanders” directed at Israel by other nations during the Assembly, a pledge that saw many delegates walking out in protest. “After I heard the lies and slanders leveled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium, I decided to come here and set the record straight,” Netanyahu said.
In his closing remarks, Netanyahu remained resolute in his position, highlighting that Israel would not stand down in the face of threats from its neighbours or biased treatment from the international community.