Netanyahu defends Israeli military actions in Middle East in UN speech

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played

Watch: UN delegates walk out of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's speech

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fiercely defended his country's military campaigns in Iran, Gaza and elsewhere in the Middle East in a speech to the UN General Assembly.

After dozens of delegates walked out in protest as he took to the stage, Netanyahu vowed to continue fighting: "We're going to win. We have no other choice."

In response to the walkout, he said: "If there are any other moral cowards who haven't left the hall, please do so now."

The Israeli leader also rejected accusations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Hours earlier, in a recorded message Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the UN that Israeli policies - in particular the illegal expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank - threatened "the very life and existence of the Palestinian people on their homeland".

He also said it jeopardised the two-state solution, which is an internationally backed formula for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Abbas said that Palestinians were being subjected to "killing, destruction, starvation and attempts at displacement, as well as a genocidal war" in Gaza by the Israeli military.

The Palestinian leader was addressing the annual gathering via a video link because had been denied a US entry visa.

Image source, EPA/ShutterstockImage caption, Reconstruction has yet to begin in Gaza almost a year after a ceasefire came into force

Netanyahu, who is subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, launched scathing attacks on nations and leaders who have criticised him.

"They accuse Israel, tiny Israel, of colonialism - some colonialism. And who's accusing us? Among them are people in Britain and in France. For God's sake, they invented the term," he said.

He went on to label Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a "tyrant", accusing him of supporting the Palestinian armed group Hamas.

Erdogan told the UN on Tuesday that the injustices faced by those in Gaza and the West Bank "deeply offends the conscience of humanity".

New York City's left-wing mayor Zohran Mamdani - who had previously vowed to arrest Netanyahu but later said he did not have the authority to do so - was also criticised by the Israeli leader.

"Since you were elected mayor of this city, many Jews no longer feel safe in New York," the Israeli prime minister said.

In a statement, Mamdani's office said Netanyahu "used his speech to repeat baseless lies meant to sanitize his genocide of Palestinians".

Netanyahu also thanked US President Donald Trump for his "bold leadership", referring to the air strikes the US and Israel jointly launched against Tehran in February.

"Israel and America acted together not only to protect ourselves, but to save civilisation," he said.

A number of people protesting against Netanyahu's visit were detained in New York City. Among them were the Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon and Emmy-winning actress Hannah Einbinder.

The Israeli military launched a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack against Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken hostages.

During the Israeli military campaign more than 73,920 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

Last year, the world's leading association of genocide scholars declared that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza.

A resolution passed by the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) stated that Israel's conduct meets the legal definition as laid out in the UN convention on genocide.

Israel has regularly denied its actions in Gaza amount to genocide and says they are justified as a means of self-defence.

On 28 February, Israel and the US started launching massive air strikes on Iran, suspecting it of secretly building a nuclear weapon - a claim denied by Tehran.

Iran retaliated by carrying out missile and drone attacks on Israel and neighbouring Gulf Arab states which host US military bases.

Netanyahu calls Macron's remarks on West Bank in UN speech 'grotesque'

Trump's Board of Peace unveils $2.45bn Gaza recovery plan

The video playlistWatch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC

PreviousNext1:04New GCSE subjects to be offered to teens in England. 00:01:04, play videoNew GCSE subjects to be offered to teens in England0:43How did pilots in RAF plane crash escape with minor injuries? 00:00:43, play videoHow did pilots in RAF plane crash escape with minor injuries?1:10Eviction of 87-year-old from home of 70 years sparks protests. 00:01:10, play videoEviction of 87-year-old from home of 70 years sparks protests1:00Police warn of rise in vape spiking. 00:01:00, play videoPolice warn of rise in vape spiking1:32Karl Bushby nears the final stretch of his 28-year journey home. 00:01:32, play videoKarl Bushby nears the final stretch of his 28-year journey home2:09'My partner raped me while I was sleeping' 00:02:09, play video'My partner raped me while I was sleeping'1:21'Miracle' device easing teenager's Tourette symptoms. 00:01:21, play video'Miracle' device easing teenager's Tourette symptoms1:20'Peeing a jellyfish': children's bladders damaged by ketamine. 00:01:20, play video'Peeing a jellyfish': children's bladders damaged by ketamine0:58What is an AI agent? 00:00:58, play videoWhat is an AI agent?0:45'A 100-foot red carpet': how Donald Trump welcomed Xi Jinping to US. 00:00:45, play video'A 100-foot red carpet': how Donald Trump welcomed Xi Jinping to US1:18Pornhub investigated over its age checks. 00:01:18, play videoPornhub investigated over its age checks1:09Should alcohol be allowed in football stands? 00:01:09, play videoShould alcohol be allowed in football stands?1:12School spent more than £36,000 on NYC trip and alcohol. 00:01:12, play videoSchool spent more than £36,000 on NYC trip and alcohol0:54Why is the price of protein powder rising? 00:00:54, play videoWhy is the price of protein powder rising?0:24OpenAI 'took way too long' to inform the Australian government. 00:00:24, play videoOpenAI 'took way too long' to inform the Australian government1:02What you need to know about the OpenAI Australian government hack. 00:01:02, play videoWhat you need to know about the OpenAI Australian government hack0:18Miso butter noodles with tuna and leek. 00:00:18, play videoMiso butter noodles with tuna and leek0:47Pilots eject as RAF jet crashes in Anglesey. 00:00:47, play videoPilots eject as RAF jet crashes in Anglesey1:54'My eyelids became infected - I was scared to sleep' 00:01:54, play video'My eyelids became infected - I was scared to sleep'0:54Residents in UK town evacuated due to unexploded WW2 bomb. 00:00:54, play videoResidents in UK town evacuated due to unexploded WW2 bombTop storiesLive. Trump says he and Xi held 'great meeting' ahead of White House state dinner

Here's why Trump's been so keen on Xi's visit

Anti-migrant activist charged after dinghy slashed in Channel

In Amish country, nurses go door to door to stop deadly spread of measles

'Make women feel seen': Why the Dutch have a new word for labia

Teenagers to be offered new vocational GCSE subjects in school

I couldn't live with the agony of migraines anymore but my GP called me dramatic

Elephants use medicinal plants to treat themselves, researchers find

Corrie Mckeague's mum: 'We did all we could to find him'

Why some charity donations do more harm than good

I knew something was wrong when my baby's head was too big

US Politics Unspun: Cut through the noise with Anthony Zurcher's newsletter

Peek if you dare: Lenny Rush stars in a brand-new supernatural comedy

New series: A claustrophobic thriller set in a billionaire's bunker

Two women, an architect and a dream house hiding sinister secrets

How the US became a global hub for surrogacy

Anti-migrant activist charged after dinghy slashed in Channel

BBC upholds complaints over Victoria Beckham slur on Have I Got News For You

Sex offender bailed to flat near playground

Man jailed for throwing bottle at migrant protest

Rapper Macklemore announces 'Free Palestine' tour after Ed Sheeran fallout

Poland says fire at Starlink station is sabotage as Denmark warns of rising Russian threat

Carroll reveals he was sexually assaulted in 2021

'It has broken us as a family,' mother of poison seller victim tells hearing

White House restores access to media outlets banned by Trump after judge's order

Crashed RAF jet steered to 'avoid built-up areas' before pilots ejected