Key Points
- In an defiant UN General Assembly speech, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a direct ultimatum to Hamas, demanding they free the hostages and surrender.
- In an “unprecedented operation,” Israel’s military reportedly seized control of Gaza’s mobile networks and used loudspeakers to broadcast Netanyahu’s message live into the territory.
- Netanyahu read aloud the names of 20 hostages believed to be alive and vowed Israel would “hunt down” any remaining Hamas operatives and “finish the job”.
- The speech was met with a mass walkout by dozens of delegates, protesting Israel’s war in Gaza and its rejection of a two-state solution.
- Netanyahu condemned the recent recognition of a Palestinian state by several nations as a “mark of shame” that rewards terrorism.
Gaza: In a defiant and dramatic address at the UN General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas, which was simultaneously broadcast directly to the people of Gaza through an unprecedented takeover of the territory’s communication networks. Vowing to “finish the job,” Netanyahu used the global stage to speak directly to the remaining hostages and their captors, warning Hamas to “lay down your arms and free the hostages now”.
An Unprecedented Psychological Operation
In a coordinated effort, the Israeli military reportedly seized control of Gaza’s mobile phone networks to transmit Netanyahu’s speech live to residents and Hamas members. The message was also blasted across the border via powerful loudspeakers. Netanyahu explicitly stated during his speech that his words were being broadcast into Gaza, creating a direct line of communication for his ultimatum. “This is Prime Minister Netanyahu speaking to you live from the United Nations. We have not forgotten you,” he said, addressing the hostages. He then read out the names of the 20 hostages Israel believes are still alive out of the 48 remaining in captivity.
Defiance on the World Stage
Netanyahu’s speech was a fiery rebuke of the international community, which he accused of forgetting the “unspeakable savagery” of the October 7, 2023 attacks that killed 1,200 people. His address was met with a mass walkout by dozens of delegates from various nations in protest of Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, which has killed a reported 65,000 Palestinians, and his staunch opposition to a two-state solution.
He sharply condemned the recent decisions by several countries, including France, Canada, and Australia, to recognize a Palestinian state, calling it a “shameful choice” and a “mark of shame” that rewards terrorism. “Western leaders may have yielded to the pressure,” he declared to a nearly empty hall. “And I assure you of one thing: Israel will not”. He insisted that allowing a Palestinian state would be “national suicide” for Israel.
The US and UK delegations remained present but were represented by lower-ranking diplomats, signaling a degree of distance from their key ally amidst growing international isolation.
