United Nations, 26 Sept

Encircled by critics and protesters at the United Nations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told fellow world leaders on Friday that Israel “must finish the job” against Hamas in Gaza, giving a defiant speech despite growing international isolation over his refusal to end the devastating war in Gaza.

“Western leaders may have buckled under the pressure," he said. “And I guarantee you one thing: Israel won't”.

He spoke after dozens of delegates from multiple nations walked out of the UN General Assembly hall en masse on Friday as he began speaking.

Responding to countries' recent decisions to recognise Palestinian statehood, Netanyahu said: “Your disgraceful decision will encourage terrorism against Jews and against innocent people everywhere”.

As the Israeli leader spoke, unintelligible shouts echoed around the hall. Applause rang out in other quarters as he spoke. The US delegation, which has backed Netanyahu in his campaign against Hamas, stayed put. The few world powers in attendance, the United States and the United Kingdom, did not send their most senior officials or even their UN ambassador to their section. Instead, it was filled out with more junior, low-level diplomats.

“Anti-semitism dies hard. In fact, it doesn't die at all,” Netanyahu said. Netanyahu routinely accuses his critics of antisemitism.

Netanyahu faces international isolation, accusations of war crimes and growing pressure to end a conflict he has continued to escalate. Friday's speech was his chance to push back on the international community's biggest platform.

As he has often in the past at the United Nations, Netanyahu held up a visual aid — a map of the region titled ‘THE CURSE’. He marked it up with a large marker.

He ascended the podium wearing a special hostages pin with a QR code that leads to a site about 7 October that was established specially for international public diplomacy needs. The members of the prime minister's delegation, ministers and those accompanying him also wore identical pins.

Netanyahu also frequently praised President Donald Trump, his chief ally in his political and military approach in the region. Netanyahu said the changes across the Mideast have created new opportunities. He said Israel has begun negotiations with Syria aimed at reaching security arrangements with the country's new government.

Back in the Mideast, the Israeli government was taking steps to ensure that Gazans and others heard what he had to say.

The military set up loudspeakers at the Israel-Gaza border to blast his words into the territory. And in an “unprecedented operation," the prime minister's office said the Israeli army would take over the mobile phones of Gaza residents and Hamas operatives and his speech would be broadcast live through the mobile devices. It was not immediately clear if that happened, or to what extent.