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Facing a rare public rebuke and mounting diplomatic backlash, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Friday to “finish the job” in Gaza, rejecting international calls to halt Israel’s devastating military campaign against Hamas and brushing off growing global isolation.
Speaking to a half-empty chamber at the United Nations General Assembly, Netanyahu delivered a fiery speech that mixed defiance, warning, and nationalistic appeal. Delegates from dozens of countries walked out in protest as he began his address, underscoring the steep diplomatic costs Israel now faces as civilian casualties in Gaza mount.
“The final remnants of Hamas are holed up in Gaza City,” Netanyahu declared. “They vow to repeat the atrocities of Oct. 7 again and again. This is why Israel must finish the job.”
Netanyahu said his remarks were being broadcast over loudspeakers across the Gaza border, directly addressing hostages held by Hamas. “We have not forgotten you, not even for a second,” he said. “The people of Israel are with you.” He then turned to Hamas fighters: “Lay down your arms. Let my people go. If you do, you will live. If you don’t, Israel will hunt you down.”
The speech drew applause from Israel’s allies but also condemnation from much of the world. France, the United Kingdom, and several other European nations recently recognized Palestine as a state, a move Netanyahu called a “disgraceful decision” that would “encourage terrorism against Jews and innocent people everywhere.”
“It will be a mark of shame on all of you,” he said.
Netanyahu’s remarks came shortly after President Donald Trump hinted at a potential “deal on Gaza,” telling reporters in New York, “I think we have maybe a deal on Gaza.” Trump, who is set to meet Netanyahu next week, did not elaborate but confirmed that peace talks were ongoing.
The United States remains Israel’s strongest ally, but even Trump has begun to impose limits on Israel’s ambitions. “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank,” Trump said Thursday, adding, “There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.”
The statement followed reports that far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition were pushing for annexation of the occupied West Bank — a move that could extinguish the long-sought two-state solution. Palestinians view the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem as core territories for a future independent state.
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the U.N. General Assembly remotely, accusing Israel of waging “a war of genocide, destruction, starvation and displacement” in Gaza while also condemning Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. Abbas said Hamas would have “no role to play” in governing Gaza after the war.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has drawn intense global criticism. Israeli forces have escalated assaults on Gaza City, displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins.
Netanyahu’s defiance also comes amid personal vulnerability: his travel route to New York reportedly avoided countries that could enforce an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is reportedly seeking a key role in administering postwar Gaza under a prospective peace plan, according to the Financial Times, though his office declined to comment. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, described the latest U.S.-led talks with Arab leaders as “productive,” hinting that “a breakthrough could be imminent.”
Still, with Israel pressing its offensive and global patience wearing thin, Netanyahu’s vow to “finish the job” signals a hardening stance that could complicate any diplomatic solution — even one backed by his closest ally in Washington.
