The walk-outs began even before Benjamin Netanyahu opened his mouth. Dozens of diplomats and ministers rose from their seats in a coordinated show of protest, leaving the UN General Assembly hall nearly empty by the time the Israeli prime minister began speaking. The image was stark: Israel’s leader addressing rows of vacant chairs, a visual metaphor for the country’s growing diplomatic isolation.
Netanyahu, who has used the UN stage for decades to deliver fiery and theatrical speeches, attempted to reclaim control of the narrative. Wearing a dark suit and a bold red tie, he stood at the podium, this time donning a conspicuous oversized QR code pin that led to a website depicting the horrors of Hamas’s October 7 attack. Yet the gimmick could not distract from the fact that his country has never appeared so cut off from the international community.
Condemning Recognition of Palestine
The prime minister launched his harshest attack yet on the wave of countries — including Australia — that recently announced recognition of Palestinian statehood. He accused Western leaders of “buckling under the pressure of a biased media, radical Islamist constituencies and antisemitic mobs.” His central charge was blunt:
“You know what message the leaders who recognise a Palestinian state this week sent to the Palestinians? It’s a very clear message: murdering Jews pays off.”
Netanyahu claimed that recognition was effectively rewarding terrorism, pointing to the celebratory reactions from Hamas and other militant groups as proof. For him, international diplomacy had taken a dangerous turn, legitimising violence instead of punishing it.
Yet the condemnation did little to change the atmosphere inside the hall. Delegates had already voted with their feet. And the speeches of the past four days, almost uniformly critical of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, had set the tone.
Gaza’s Devastating Toll
Behind the words lies a devastating reality. Hamas’s October 7 attack killed more than 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. Israel’s retaliation has been catastrophic for Gaza. The enclave’s health ministry reports over 65,000 deaths since the strikes and ground operations began. Entire neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble, and aid agencies describe the humanitarian situation as one of the worst of this century.
Netanyahu dismissed accusations of genocide as “baseless.” Instead, he claimed that Hamas bore full responsibility for civilian suffering, alleging that the group uses civilians as shields. To him, Israel’s military campaign remains both defensive and necessary, even as the death toll climbs and criticism mounts from allies and adversaries alike.
Boasting of Regional Operations
The prime minister shifted focus to highlight what he framed as strategic achievements: damaging Iran’s nuclear program, striking Hezbollah, and eliminating Houthi leaders in Yemen. He cast these as victories not only for Israel but for global security. His message: Israel is fighting the same extremist networks that threaten the wider world.
Yet critics argue this framing avoids the central question — what comes next in Gaza? The speech offered no roadmap beyond more conflict. No diplomatic initiatives. No timeline for ending military operations. No strategy for what a post-war Gaza might look like.
Trump’s Intervention and a Looming Dilemma
Netanyahu also carefully avoided mention of a surprising intervention from Donald Trump. Just days earlier, the U.S. president declared he would not allow Israel to annex more of the West Bank — a move many assumed Netanyahu might pursue in retaliation for Palestinian recognition abroad.
This silence underscored Netanyahu’s precarious position. At home, his far-right coalition partners demand harsher measures, including flattening Gaza entirely. Abroad, he faces an American president determined to secure a legacy-defining peace agreement. Netanyahu must balance between keeping his coalition intact and not alienating Washington.
That balancing act will be tested on Monday, when he arrives at the White House for what are expected to be tense talks. Trump has met Arab leaders who appear optimistic that a deal is within reach. But the concessions they envision are unlikely to satisfy Netanyahu’s coalition, which has invested months in a maximalist war agenda.
Protests Outside the UN
While Netanyahu spoke inside, thousands demonstrated outside. The largest march of the UN General Assembly week snaked from Times Square to UN headquarters, with protesters waving Palestinian flags and chanting for an end to the war. Many wore the black-and-white keffiyeh, symbol of solidarity with Palestine.
In contrast, a much smaller gathering took place nearby. A few dozen people held Israeli flags and yellow flowers, representing the hostages taken on October 7. Among them was Orna Neutra, whose son Omer served with the Israeli Defense Forces. Initially believed to be a hostage, he was later confirmed killed during the attack, his body still held in Gaza.
“This was a just war, but the war goals have been achieved,” she said. “Hamas is eliminated, most of its leadership is gone, there are 48 hostages, they should be the priority. It’s time for courageous leadership, end the suffering and allow the whole region to recover from this disaster.”
Her words cut against the prime minister’s message of unending resistance. For families like hers, the demand is not more escalation but closure, reconciliation, and above all, the safe return of the remaining hostages.
Israel’s Diplomatic Isolation
Netanyahu’s UN appearance revealed the extent of Israel’s diplomatic isolation. Once able to rely on solid Western backing even amid criticism, the prime minister now faces governments openly breaking ranks. Recognition of Palestine by Australia and others signals that traditional allies no longer believe Israel’s war strategy will yield peace.
This isolation is not only symbolic. It risks affecting Israel’s access to arms, aid, and international forums. The International Criminal Court continues to investigate alleged war crimes. European nations are debating sanctions. Humanitarian organisations are intensifying pressure. Each development adds strain to Israel’s already fragile standing.
A Missing Vision
What many observers noted most was what Netanyahu did not say. There was no plan for Gaza’s governance after Hamas. No vision for coexistence with Palestinians. No acknowledgment of the regional anger that fuels wider instability. Instead, the speech was framed almost entirely around security threats, deterrence, and retaliation.
For critics, this omission underscores a troubling reality: Israel is waging a war without a political horizon. Without a credible peace strategy, the risk of endless cycles of violence remains. And without international support, even military gains may prove unsustainable.
The Road Ahead
As Netanyahu prepares for his White House visit, the stakes are enormous. Trump seeks a peace deal that could reshape the Middle East and bolster his foreign policy record. Arab leaders appear more willing than in the past to entertain normalization if Palestinians are given meaningful statehood.
But Netanyahu faces a domestic political trap. His far-right partners — essential to his coalition’s survival — oppose concessions. Any move toward Palestinian statehood risks triggering a government collapse. And yet, rejecting U.S. proposals outright could fracture Israel’s most important alliance.
The protests in New York, the walk-outs at the UN, and the shifting stances of Western allies all point in one direction: the world expects Israel to change course. Whether Netanyahu is willing or able to do so remains unclear.
Conclusion
Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest UN speech may go down as one of his most defiant — but also one of his most isolated. The image of an almost empty hall captured the international community’s growing impatience. His fiery rhetoric rallied loyalists but offered no answers to the core questions of peace, governance, and reconciliation.
Israel’s prime minister now faces a narrowing path. More war may satisfy his coalition in the short term, but without a strategy for peace, the long-term costs could be devastating — not only for Palestinians but for Israel’s place in the world. The next chapter will hinge on whether Netanyahu can move beyond defiance to diplomacy, or whether history will remember him as the leader who presided over Israel’s greatest isolation.
