Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly rejected accusations of genocide and the use of starvation as a weapon in Gaza during his address at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday.
Speaking at the UN headquarters in New York, Netanyahu dismissed the allegations as “blood libels,” comparing them to anti-Semitic falsehoods from the Middle Ages.
“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,” he declared.
Netanyahu claimed that Israel had not only refrained from using starvation as a tactic but was actively providing food aid to Gaza’s population.
He emphasized that Israel’s military campaign was aimed at defeating Hamas, which he referred to as a “terror machine,” adding that his country had “crushed the bulk” of the group’s capabilities and aimed to complete the mission “as fast as possible.”
The Israeli leader also outlined what he described as a series of strategic victories over the past year, including operations targeting Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon.
Netanyahu’s speech sparked divided reactions inside the UN General Assembly hall. As he took the podium, the first speaker of the day, multiple delegations walked out in protest.
At the same time, supporters in the audience cheered, creating a polarized atmosphere in the chamber.
The event underlined the deep international divisions over Israel’s actions in Gaza, which have drawn both condemnation and support from different corners of the global community.
