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Netanyahu rejected genocide allegations at the UN Thursday as Abbas urged action over Gaza and called for a two-state solution.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected allegations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza during a forceful address to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the gathering by prerecorded video after being denied a U.S. visa.
Netanyahu described the genocide allegations as “the biggest lie of the century” and defended Israel’s military actions, including its confrontation with Iran. His appearance was met by a large walkout of delegates, leaving many seats in the General Assembly hall empty as he began speaking.
Netanyahu also defended Israel’s response to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, which killed about 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in 251 people being taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. Israel subsequently launched its military campaign in Gaza, where more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health officials. The figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel rejects allegations of genocide and says its military campaign is directed at Hamas.
Abbas spoke earlier from Ramallah in a prerecorded address after the United States again denied visas to him and other senior Palestinian officials. The Associated Press reported that it was the second consecutive year Abbas was prevented from attending the U.N. gathering in person.
In his address, Abbas described the situation facing Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank as one of the most serious periods in their history and urged the international community to take action. He called for a two-state solution and said Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem should ultimately be governed under a single Palestinian government and legal system.
The speeches came as the Gaza war remained a central issue at the 81st session of the General Assembly, with governments divided over Israel’s military campaign, Palestinian statehood and the prospects for a political settlement. The conflict began after the Hamas-led attack in October 2023, and efforts to determine Gaza’s future and establish a lasting political arrangement remain unresolved.
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, France 24, WTOP and The Guardian.