The Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech was a provocative watershed during the UN's initial general assembly where heads of state and government gather. Before the speech, many countries' delegates chose to leave in protest and several booed.
He stated that a two-state solution with the Palestinians is unthinkable, and that Israel's enemies must be struck down or give up. Netanyahu also announced unexpected methods in warfare:
I have surrounded Gaza with massive loudspeakers in the hope that our dear hostages will hear this message, said Netanyahu. Israel claimed at the same time that the Gazans' mobile phones were hacked so that the speech would be rebroadcast via the mobile phones.
Increases the risk
But the leading organization representing the relatives of hostages saw only problems with the speech.
"Every day of continued war increases the risk for the hostages" wrote the organization Hostages and Missing Families Forum in a statement and noted:
"Time and time again (Netanyahu) chooses to throw away the opportunities to get the hostages home."
It was a typically confrontational Netanyahu who addressed several of the allegations made against Israel regarding the country's warfare in Gaza, and dismissed them all.
Regarding the allegations of genocide, which Israel is being investigated for in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netanyahu said that Israel had sent out leaflets and in other ways informed the population before impending bombings. According to him, this shows that the suspicions are not true.
Did the Nazis politely ask the Jews to leave, to go away?
Dismisses two-state solution
Netanyahu also said that a two-state solution would mean a "national suicide", referring to the fact that among others the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Australia have recently announced recognitions.
Israel will not allow you to force a terrorist state down our throats. We will not commit national suicide just because you do not dare to turn against the hostile media and the anti-Semitic mobs that demand Israel's blood.
