Netanyahu tells UN Gaza genocide claim is "biggest lie of the century"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered an aggressive speech before world leaders at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. He firmly defended Israel's position on the war in Gaza, military action against Iran, and criticism from Western countries.

Netanyahu flatly rejected claims that Israel is carrying out genocide in Gaza. "These accusations are the biggest lie of the century," he said.

As Netanyahu took the podium to speak, representatives of several Islamic and other countries walked out of the chamber in protest at the call of Palestine. Seeing most of the seats in the hall empty, Netanyahu criticised them sharply. "The representatives who just left this hall are morally cowardly. If there is anyone else in this hall who is morally cowardly, they too should please leave," he said. There was chaos in the hall at the time due to sloganeering both for and against him, and General Assembly President Khalil-ur-Rahman repeatedly appealed for order.

In his speech, Netanyahu firmly defended the Israeli strikes on Iran and the action against nuclear sites there. He said that stopping the threat of Iran's nuclear weapons development in time was the simplest and most important decision of his tenure. "The threat from Iran is not limited to Israel alone, it is a threat to the entire world. Even as Israel defends itself, it is providing security to many of the countries that walked out of this hall," he claimed. He also made a sensational disclosure that "the leaders of many of the countries that staged a walkout have personally thanked Israel wholeheartedly for destroying Iran's nuclear sites."

Netanyahu devoted a large part of his speech to criticising New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani had earlier called Netanyahu a war criminal and demanded his arrest, and had tried to stop him from coming to New York. Responding to this, Netanyahu said, "Mr. Mamdani, you tried to stop me from coming here and to silence my voice, but you can never silence the voice of truth."

Netanyahu also alleged that since Mamdani became mayor, an atmosphere of fear has spread among New York City's Jewish community, who feel unsafe. "Many Jewish citizens tell me this is not the city we used to know," he said. He also strongly targeted Mamdani, alleging ties to people who support Hamas and who supported the 9/11 terror attack, and alleging that Mamdani had invited a Palestinian journalist to his home. Sharp reactions have begun at the international level and in diplomatic circles following Netanyahu's stormy speech.