Defiant Netanyahu attacks NYC mayor at UN speech defending Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly that ‘Israel didn't commit genocide, Israel prevented genocide,' delivering the line to a hall that emptied as delegates walked out in protest. He devoted much of the speech to attacking New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, claiming Jews no longer feel safe in the city and calling Mamdani antisemitic, after Mamdani had earlier vowed, then walked back, a pledge to arrest Netanyahu under an International Criminal Court warrant.

The Palestinian death toll has surpassed 70,000 since the conflict began in 2023, and the International Criminal Court and multiple human rights groups have found Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, denied a US visa for a second year, addressed the assembly by video, calling Israel's campaign ‘a war of genocide' and noting continued West Bank settlement expansion. More than 100 people were arrested at pro-Palestinian protests in Manhattan during Netanyahu's speech.

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