Netanyahu’s UN address focused on Gaza, Iran and criticism of New York’s mayor
Benjamin Netanyahu used his UN General Assembly address to reject genocide accusations over Gaza, defend Israel’s military actions and attack New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. He also criticized Iran, Qatar and Türkiye, and played down settler violence in the West Bank.
Key points
- Netanyahu rejected the claim that Israel committed genocide in Gaza and presented Israel’s actions as defensive.
Evidence · 3 source statements
Allegations of Israeli genocide in Gaza are not only false but “the biggest lie of the century”
In defending itself, Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall.
Israel and America acted together not only to protect ourselves, but to save civilization.
- He made Mamdani a prominent target, accusing him of antisemitism and support for Hamas, and saying his criticism made Jewish New Yorkers less safe.
Evidence · 4 source statements
accused Mayor Zohran Mamdani of endangering Jewish New Yorkers with his criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza
Mr. Mamdani, since you were elected mayor of this city, many Jews no longer feel safe in New York.
He called Mamdani a supporter of Hamas
- Netanyahu portrayed Israel’s actions against Iran as protecting Israel, the United States and wider security, and predicted Iran’s regime would fall.
Evidence · 4 source statements
the murderous regime will be toppled by its lies, by its corruption, by its cruelty.
Israel and America acted together not only to protect ourselves, but to save civilization.
- He characterized West Bank settler violence as limited, citing a small number of young offenders and two or three casualties a year.
Evidence · 2 source statements
“handful of young juvenile delinquents”
He insisted that settler violence only leads to 2 or 3 casualties a year, while Palestinian terrorists try to carry out thousands of attacks.
Who's involved
Benjamin Netanyahu
He delivered the address as Israel’s prime minister.
He denied that Israel committed genocide, defended Israel’s military actions as necessary, criticized Mamdani and regional governments, and minimized the scale of settler violence while saying he would not tolerate vigilantism.
What they said · 7 source statements
Allegations of Israeli genocide in Gaza are not only false but “the biggest lie of the century”
In defending itself, Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall.
Israel and America acted together not only to protect ourselves, but to save civilization.
He called Mamdani a supporter of Hamas
He insisted that settler violence only leads to 2 or 3 casualties a year, while Palestinian terrorists try to carry out thousands of attacks.
At the same time, Netanyahu said he “won’t stand for vigilantism” and that he set the Shin Bet intelligence agency on them.
Government of Israel
It is the government whose military actions and policies were addressed.
Israel rejects allegations that it committed genocide or war crimes, or illegally occupies Palestinian territory.
What they said · 1 source statement
Israel rejects allegations that it committed genocide and war crimes and is illegally occupying Palestinian territory.
Zohran Mamdani
New York’s mayor was a direct target of Netanyahu’s speech and had accused him of genocide.
Mamdani accused Netanyahu of genocide.
What they said · 1 source statement
Gracie Mansion
The mayor’s office responded to Netanyahu’s accusation that Mamdani supports Hamas.
It denied that Mamdani supports Hamas.
What they said · 2 source statements
He called Mamdani a supporter of Hamas
something the Gracie Mansion firmly denies
Where accounts differ
Whether Israel committed genocide in Gaza
- Mamdani accused Netanyahu of genocide; Netanyahu denied that Israel committed genocide.
Evidence · 3 source statements
Allegations of Israeli genocide in Gaza are not only false but “the biggest lie of the century”
The sides gave opposing characterizations of Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
Whether Mamdani supports Hamas
- Netanyahu called Mamdani a supporter of Hamas.
Evidence · 2 source statements
He called Mamdani a supporter of Hamas
- Gracie Mansion denied that Mamdani supports Hamas.
Evidence · 1 source statement
something the Gracie Mansion firmly denies
The mayor’s office directly denied Netanyahu’s allegation.
What was reported
- Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly and spoke about Gaza, Iran and Israel’s military actions.
Reported independently by 3: AP, Le Monde, The Times of Israel
Evidence · 3 source statements
Allegations of Israeli genocide in Gaza are not only false but “the biggest lie of the century”
Israel and America acted together not only to protect ourselves, but to save civilization.
- He called the genocide allegations against Israel false and “the biggest lie of the century.”
One source: AP
Evidence · 1 source statement
Allegations of Israeli genocide in Gaza are not only false but “the biggest lie of the century”
- Netanyahu accused Mamdani of trying to prevent his New York visit and silence him.
Reported independently by 2: Der Spiegel, Fox News
Evidence · 2 source statements
Mr. Mamdani, you try to stop me from coming here. You tried to silence me.
- Netanyahu urged delegates he called “moral cowards” to leave the hall and said Israel was defending countries whose representatives had left.
Reported independently by 2: Der Spiegel, Fox News
Evidence · 4 source statements
Before I begin, just a quick announcement, if there are any other moral cowards who haven't yet left this hall, please do so now,
In defending itself, Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall.
- He asserted that Israel and the United States had prevented Iran from developing nuclear weapons and predicted Iran’s regime would fall.
One source: Le Monde
Evidence · 2 source statements
- Netanyahu accused Qatar and Türkiye of spreading false information about Israel, and accused Qatar of using spending on US universities and Al Jazeera to influence young people.
Reported independently by 2: The Times of Israel, Yonhap News Agency
Evidence · 2 source statements
for years been spending billions on US universities and the Al Jazeera outlet to “brainwash young minds to hate Israel, hate America, hate the West.”
- He challenged accusations that Israel is colonialist and said there would be no Palestinian state while he led Israel.
Reported independently by 2: AP, Le Monde
Evidence · 2 source statements
Netanyahu has said no Palestinian state will be established while he is Israel’s leader and has argued that the Palestinian Authority is not a partner for peace.
- On settler violence, Netanyahu referred to around 150 young people throwing stones and uprooting olive trees, while also saying settler violence caused only two or three casualties a year.
Reported independently by 2: Le Monde, The Times of Israel
Evidence · 2 source statements
He insisted that settler violence only leads to 2 or 3 casualties a year, while Palestinian terrorists try to carry out thousands of attacks.
How coverage differed
Canadian, British and French coverage — These reports foregrounded the Gaza genocide allegations and, in the French report, Netanyahu’s treatment of West Bank settler violence.
Russian and Israeli coverage — These reports gave particular attention to Netanyahu’s accusations against Mamdani and his attacks on regional actors.
Still unclear
- No agreement was announced.
Not heard from
- Palestinians in Gaza — They are directly affected by the war and the genocide allegations, but their own statements do not appear in the claims.
- Palestinian Authority — The address discussed Palestinian statehood, and the Palestinian president was also scheduled to speak, but the claims contain no statement from the Authority.
- Iran — Netanyahu discussed Israel’s actions against Iran and predicted its regime would fall, but no Iranian response appears in the claims.
- Qatar and Türkiye — Netanyahu accused both countries of spreading false information about Israel, but neither country’s response appears in the claims.