Netanyahu rejects genocide allegations before an assembly emptied by dozens of delegations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced claims that his country is committing genocide in Gaza as "the biggest lie of the century" during his address to the United Nations General Assembly. The speaker urged any remaining diplomats to leave the hall before launching into his remarks. The assembly had numerous delegations absent, reportedly led by Arab, Muslim, and African representatives. The United States delegation remained seated, while Israeli party members chanted "Am Yisrael Chai."

Netanyahu claimed that Israel's actions were defensive, aiming to prevent genocide rather than committing it, and connected the allegations to rising anti-Semitism. He described the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, as "the darkest day in Israel's history" and "the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust," comparing the casualties to those of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The International Criminal Court is investigating Netanyahu for war crimes and crimes against humanity, while South Africa and other states have filed a genocide case against Israel, which Israel denies.

Netanyahu defended his decision to attack Iran, stating it was one of the easiest he had made. He credited U.S. President Donald Trump for a "salvation of civilization" decision and reiterated Israel's commitment to "win because we have no other choice." The prime minister addressed settler violence in the West Bank, characterizing the perpetrators as "a handful of juvenile delinquents" responsible for a negligible number of deaths.

He also criticized New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani as "the antisemitic mayor of New York." Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas spoke remotely from Ramallah, condemning Israel's campaign as a "genocidal war" and urging an end to the violence. The assembly had voted to allow Abbas to speak, with the United States and Israel opposing the decision.

Netanyahu's address took place a month before Israeli elections, in which his party's continued government control is uncertain.