United Nations (TDI): As US President Donald Trump claimed progress toward a deal to halt the Gaza war and secure the release of prisoners, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday sought to dismiss what he called “the false charge of genocide.” But his address to the UN General Assembly underscored his growing isolation, with large sections of the hall empty after scores of delegates, including Pakistan’s mission, walked out in protest.
Netanyahu lashed out at Western nations that recently recognized Palestinian statehood, accusing them of pushing Israel toward “national suicide.” He spoke as the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes hung over his appearance.
Outside the UN, thousands of demonstrators clogged traffic near Times Square, denouncing Israeli airstrikes that Gaza officials say have killed more than 65,000 people in less than two years.
Read More: At UNGA, PM Shehbaz Says Pakistan Seeks Peace After Defeating Indian Aggression
Brandishing a map of the Middle East, Netanyahu crossed out the names of Israel’s adversaries and vowed to “finish the job” against Hamas, even as Trump said he was closing in on a ceasefire framework. A senior White House official later confirmed that Trump will host Netanyahu in Washington on Monday to push negotiations forward, according to media reports.
Netanyahu claimed that while many governments publicly condemn Israel, “behind closed doors” they privately thank him for intelligence sharing. He accused critics of giving in to “biased media, radical Islamist constituencies, and antisemitic mobs.”
Notably absent from his remarks was any mention of annexing the occupied West Bank, a plan that has faced international condemnation.
Gaza authorities denounced Netanyahu’s remarks as “lies and contradictions,” calling them a “desperate attempt to justify genocide.” Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said the widespread boycott of his speech reflected Israel’s mounting isolation.
Read More: Dar Warns Netanyahu’s ‘Greater Israel’ Remarks Endanger Regional Stability
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking via video after Washington denied him a visa, also condemned Israel’s military campaign as “a war of genocide.” He welcomed the wave of recognitions of Palestinian statehood and said the Palestinian Authority was prepared to assume responsibility for governing Gaza once the conflict ends.
Meanwhile, 12 nations, including Britain, France, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Norway, unveiled a new coalition to provide emergency funding for the Palestinian Authority (PA), which has been starved of revenue for two years due to Israel’s withholding of tax transfers.
The group, formally called the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Authority, aims to stabilize the PA’s finances, ensure the delivery of basic services, and preserve security functions viewed as vital for regional stability and the two-state solution.
Spain’s foreign ministry said the coalition was created in response to an “urgent and unprecedented financial crisis” facing the PA, underscoring fears that economic collapse could derail any prospects for peace.
