Netanyahu Faces UN Amid ICC Warrant & Gaza Crisis

UNITED NATIONS — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address the United Nations General Assembly on Friday amid unprecedented international scrutiny over Israel’s ongoing conflict with Gaza. The speech comes as Netanyahu faces growing isolation, an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, and calls from multiple nations to end the war.

Netanyahu, boarding a plane from Israel on Thursday, vowed to defend Israel’s actions. “I will tell our truth,” he said, criticizing world leaders who support Palestinian statehood instead of condemning attacks on Israel.

Recent days have seen countries including Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom recognize an independent Palestinian state. The European Union is also considering tariffs and sanctions on Israel. The UN General Assembly passed a nonbinding resolution urging Israel to support Palestinian statehood, which Netanyahu rejects.

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The ICC issued an arrest warrant accusing Netanyahu of crimes against humanity, allegations he denies. Meanwhile, the UN’s highest court is reviewing South Africa’s claim that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, which Israel strongly opposes.

Opposition to Netanyahu’s policies continues to grow. In a special UN session this week, representatives from multiple nations condemned the 2023 Hamas attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis and left 251 hostages. They also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians and displaced roughly 90% of Gaza’s population, with many now facing severe food shortages.

While the United States continues to support Israel, former President Donald Trump warned of limits, stating he would not allow annexation of the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu’s government has proposed settlement expansions that could divide the West Bank, raising further concerns over the viability of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Trump during the UN visit.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas addressed the General Assembly via video on Thursday, after the US denied him a visa. Abbas welcomed recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood but urged the international community to act further to secure Palestinian rights and end occupation.

Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip in the 1967 war and withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Palestinians envision all three territories as part of a future state under a two-state solution, which Netanyahu opposes, citing security concerns regarding Hamas.