Netanyahu Defends Gaza War and Attacks NYC Mayor at UN
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, delivering a fiery speech that defended Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and launched direct attacks against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Arriving in New York for an abbreviated trip lasting under eight hours, Netanyahu utilized the global platform to counter international criticism over civilian casualties, characterize the Israeli Defense Forces as the most moral army in the world, and confront local political figures. His address triggered a mass walkout by dozens of foreign delegations from the assembly hall, alongside widespread protests outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan.
During the speech, Netanyahu directly cited Mamdani, branding the mayor’s office as antisemitic and rejecting assertions made by the municipal leader regarding war crimes in Gaza. Addressing the assembly floor, Netanyahu stated that those who spread lies about Israeli soldiers—whether sitting in the UN hall or in the mayor’s office—should be ashamed for distorting facts and inverting the roles of victim and aggressor. The public clash follows months of friction between the two figures, escalated by Mamdani’s previous comments labeling Netanyahu a war criminal and advocating for enforcement of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant, though the mayor later acknowledged the city lacks federal enforcement authority.
According to an official news report published by The Guardian, Netanyahu also praised strategic alignment with President Donald Trump while criticizing European nations for failing to adequately confront regional security threats. The prime minister defended ongoing military actions across multiple fronts as essential for national survival, insisting that Israel would continue its campaign until its operational objectives are met. Mayor Mamdani rejected the prime minister’s assertions during a subsequent press briefing, maintaining that criticism of foreign government policy remains a protected right and reiterating calls for international accountability.
