WorldPosted at: Sep 24 2026 11:05PM


Netanyahu expected to cover Gaza, West Bank, Hamas terrorism in UNGA speech

New York, Sep 24 (UNI) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New York early Thursday for a brief visit to address the UN General Assembly, with his speech expected to focus on Iran, the war in Gaza and violence in the West Bank.
He is expected to meet several world leaders along the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit, though his trip is expected to last only a few short hours. He is due to leave the US later the same day ahead of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
Netanyahu travelled overnight from Israel on his Wing of Zion aircraft and landed at Stewart International Airport in New York’s Hudson Valley, about 97km north of Manhattan.
His office said he would meet several world leaders during the short visit, including the presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Panama and Ethiopia, as well as the vice-president of Colombia and the prime ministers of Greece, Slovenia and Papua New Guinea. He is not scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump or Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The Israeli premier is expected to devote much of his UN address to Iran and Israel’s military operations in Gaza and neighbouring countries, as well as defending Jerusalem’s actions in the war that followed Hamas’ October 7, 2023 massacre.
He is also expected to respond to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has described Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and charged him with culpability for what he calls genocide against Palestinians.
Netanyahu addressed Mamdani directly in a video earlier this week, saying he was travelling to New York to “tell the truth about our heroic soldiers” and “to tell the truth about you”. He accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas, an allegation Mamdani has rejected.
During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani said he would seek to have Netanyahu arrested if he came to New York under the International Criminal Court warrant issued against the Israeli prime minister. He later acknowledged that the city did not have the legal authority to carry out such an arrest.
The dispute comes as Israel faces criticism from several countries at the UN. European and West Asian leaders speaking at the General Assembly on Wednesday criticised Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank.
Netanyahu’s unusually short trip also comes just weeks before Israel’s October 27 election, with his UN appearance noted to serve as both a defence of Israel’s position internationally and an opportunity to address voters at home.
Former Israeli ambassador Michael Oren said Netanyahu was likely to use the speech to present his political arguments to an Israeli audience as much as to the UN.
Netanyahu’s decision to visit without a planned meeting with Trump has also drawn attention. The two leaders jointly launched military action against Iran on February 28, but their positions later diverged after Washington and Tehran reached an interim ceasefire that Netanyahu opposed.
Nimrod Goren, president of the Israeli foreign-policy think-tank Mitvim, said the absence of a meeting with Trump could carry political significance for Netanyahu ahead of the election.
Netanyahu has frequently used his UN appearances to warn about Iran’s nuclear programme, sometimes relying on charts, diagrams and other visual material. At last year’s General Assembly, several delegations walked out as he approached the podium while supporters in the gallery applauded.
The visit comes amid growing international criticism of Israel’s military campaign and diplomatic pressure over its policies in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu, who rejects allegations of war crimes, is subject to an ICC arrest warrant issued in 2024.
Recent disagreements with longstanding partners have also added to the diplomatic pressure, with Britain, France and Canada announcing sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank earlier this month.
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Tags: #Netanyahu expected to cover Gaza# West Bank# Hamas terrorism in UNGA speech
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