'No greater partner than Trump': Netanyahu defends Iran war, attacks critics as delegates walk out at UNGA - top quotes
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly on Thursday to defend Israel’s military actions against Iran and Hamas, praise US President Donald Trump and attack critics including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Netanyahu’s speech was marked by a walkout by dozens of delegates as he took the podium. He responded by calling those who left “moral cowards” and continued his address to a hall in which many seats were visibly empty. Supporters in the viewing gallery cheered and applauded Netanyahu during parts of the speech.
‘No greater partner than President Trump’
Netanyahu strongly praised Trump for his support of Israel and said the two countries had acted together against threats posed by Iran.
"In this battle against the barbarians, we've had no greater partner than President Trump. I thank him for his bold leadership. He boldly confronted an enormous danger to America, Israel, and the world...Israel and America acted together, not only to protect ourselves, but to save civilization," Netanyahu said.
He also credited US-Israeli cooperation for Israel’s military campaign against Iran, saying the two countries had acted to protect themselves and the wider world.
Netanyahu calls Iran strike ‘one of the easiest decisions’
Defending Israel’s military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, Netanyahu said the decision to launch the operation had been difficult but necessary for Israel’s security.
"...Devastating Iran's nuclear facilities was hard. It was very hard to do. But for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I've ever had to make as prime minister. Because if we hadn't done it, we'd all be dead. Now, you want to hear the ultimate irony? In defending itself, Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall. Many of their leaders even thank us privately for taking out Iran's nukes. It's hard to imagine more mind-blowing hypocrisy, but that's exactly what it is," he said.
The remarks came amid continuing tensions over Israel’s military campaign against Iran. Netanyahu has repeatedly framed the operation as an effort to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability.
‘Seven-front war’: Netanyahu lists Israel’s adversaries
Netanyahu described Israel as having fought what he called a “seven-front war” over the past three years, listing Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iran, Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, and Palestinian militants in the West Bank.
"For the past three years, our heroic soldiers have fought day in and day out in a seven-front war. Do you know any other country the size of New Jersey, capable of fighting a seven-front war? Seven fronts – Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iran, militias in Iraq, militias in Syria, Palestinian terrorists in Judea and Samaria; they all ganged up on us to wipe us off the face of the earth," he said.
Netanyahu said Israel had responded by launching military operations against those groups.
"They failed. Because instead of collapsing, we delivered crippling blows to all of them. With our great American friends, we crushed Iran's army, navy, air force and nuclear facilities. Israel hammered Hamas. We pummeled Hezbollah," Netanyahu added.
Netanyahu holds up pager while referring to Hezbollah
During his speech, Netanyahu held up a pager while referring to Israel’s 2024 operation against Hezbollah. He said the group’s leadership had suffered major losses and referred to the pager explosions that targeted members of the Iran-backed group in Lebanon and Syria.
“You remember the beepers? Remember these things? Remember them? Well, I can tell you this: Hezbollah certainly remembers them...Hezbollah's leaders, dead. Their spirit, broken. The arch terrorists, the worst mass murderers on earth, not only killing Israelis, killing Americans, killing Brits, killing citizens of hundreds, dozens of countries...They're all gone too. The remaining terrorists are desperately trying to regroup. Every day, they try to murder our people. And in particular, they try to murder our people in our historic homeland, in Judea,” the Israeli PM said.
The pager attack in September 2024 involved remotely detonated pagers used by Hezbollah members and killed and wounded people across Lebanon and parts of Syria.
Netanyahu rejects colonialism accusations
Netanyahu also defended Israel’s territorial policies and rejected accusations that Israel was pursuing colonialism. He invoked Jewish historical ties to the Golan Heights while criticising countries including Britain and France.
"...We weren't in Gaza. We weren't on the Golan Heights. The Jews have been on the Golan Heights since the days of Moses. You can read it in the Bible. On the eve of the Six-Day War in 1967, we weren't in any of these places. We were in a tiny sliver of land. We still are. That is equal to about one-third of 1 % of the landmass of the entire Arab world. Yet they accuse Israel, tiny Israel, of colonialism, some colonialism. And who's accusing us? Well, among them are people in Britain and in France...Colonialism gave us a break. Another lie,” Netanyahu further said.
Netanyahu attacks Qatar and Erdogan
Netanyahu accused Qatar and Turkey of spreading what he described as false narratives about Israel and criticised their relations with Hamas.
"Several foreign countries have spent untold billions to spread lies about my country. The first to do so was Qatar...Their goal was clear. Brainwash young minds to hate Israel, hate America, hate the West. This is the same Qatar that hosts the Hamas butchers of October 7th. Now the latest country to become a super spreader of anti-Semitic lies is Turkey. Erdogan is a tyrant. He also hosts the Hamas terror chiefs. He's murdered thousands of Kurdish civilians. He denies the Armenian genocide. He jails journalists and opposition leaders. In fact, I think he holds the world's record on this, and that's a tough call. But I think he's number one," he said.
Netanyahu clashes with Mamdani over Gaza allegations
Netanyahu devoted part of his address to Mamdani, accusing the New York mayor of contributing to an environment in which Jewish residents feel unsafe and of associating with people who have expressed support for Hamas.
"Mr. Mamdani, since you were elected mayor of this city, many Jews no longer feel safe in New York. They talk to me. They tell me, “This isn't the city we remember. It changed so quickly.” You praise criminals convicted of supporting Hamas. You count as friends people like Hasan Piker, who said America deserved 9/11. “America deserved 9/11.” Some friends you have. You invited to your home a Palestinian journalist who filmed Hamas terrorists beating and torturing Israeli hostages, and later admitted that he refused to publish the videos in order to protect, you guessed it, the terrorists," he further said.
He also accused Mamdani of attempting to prevent him from attending the UN and rejected allegations that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
"Your wife liked a post praising the October 7 massacre. She liked another post saying Tel Aviv shouldn't exist. You refuse to condemn any of that. You falsely and repeatedly accuse Israel of genocide. Mr. Mamdani, you try to stop me from coming here. You tried to silence me. Well, you can't silence me. You can't silence the truth. And here's the simple truth. Here's a simple truth: Israel didn't commit genocide; Israel prevented genocide," he said.
Mamdani has repeatedly criticised Netanyahu’s conduct of the Gaza war and previously referred to him as a “war criminal”. He has also disputed Netanyahu’s characterisation of his criticism of Israel as antisemitism.
Dozens of delegates walk out as Netanyahu begins speech
The Israeli prime minister’s address began with a visible protest inside the General Assembly hall, with dozens of delegates walking out as he approached the podium. The chair repeatedly called for order as Netanyahu began speaking.
Netanyahu directly addressed those who had left, saying: "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. Thank you very much."
He later argued that Israel’s actions against Iran had also benefited countries whose representatives had walked out, claiming some foreign leaders had privately thanked Israel.
Netanyahu urges Jews to ‘raise your head high’
Netanyahu also spoke about what he described as rising antisemitism and called on Jews around the world to remain confident in the face of threats.
"The anti-Semites of the world want to terrify our people. I have news for them: the days when Jews were defenseless victims, marched to the slaughter, those days are over. Today, we have a state. Today, we have an army. Today, we have a people ready and willing to defend ourselves. Today I have one message for Jews around the world: raise your head high, be proud, be confident, don't be intimidated. Stand up. Everyone else who wants to defend truth and justice, join us in standing up to the barbarians who threaten our common civilization,” he said.
Netanyahu’s address combined a defence of Israel’s military campaigns with attacks on international critics, while placing the US-Israel partnership and the confrontation with Iran at the centre of his message. Supporters in the viewing gallery gave him a standing ovation at the conclusion of his speech.
Netanyahu’s speech was marked by a walkout by dozens of delegates as he took the podium. He responded by calling those who left “moral cowards” and continued his address to a hall in which many seats were visibly empty. Supporters in the viewing gallery cheered and applauded Netanyahu during parts of the speech.
‘No greater partner than President Trump’
Netanyahu strongly praised Trump for his support of Israel and said the two countries had acted together against threats posed by Iran.
"In this battle against the barbarians, we've had no greater partner than President Trump. I thank him for his bold leadership. He boldly confronted an enormous danger to America, Israel, and the world...Israel and America acted together, not only to protect ourselves, but to save civilization," Netanyahu said.
He also credited US-Israeli cooperation for Israel’s military campaign against Iran, saying the two countries had acted to protect themselves and the wider world.
Netanyahu calls Iran strike ‘one of the easiest decisions’
Defending Israel’s military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, Netanyahu said the decision to launch the operation had been difficult but necessary for Israel’s security.
"...Devastating Iran's nuclear facilities was hard. It was very hard to do. But for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I've ever had to make as prime minister. Because if we hadn't done it, we'd all be dead. Now, you want to hear the ultimate irony? In defending itself, Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall. Many of their leaders even thank us privately for taking out Iran's nukes. It's hard to imagine more mind-blowing hypocrisy, but that's exactly what it is," he said.
The remarks came amid continuing tensions over Israel’s military campaign against Iran. Netanyahu has repeatedly framed the operation as an effort to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability.
‘Seven-front war’: Netanyahu lists Israel’s adversaries
Netanyahu described Israel as having fought what he called a “seven-front war” over the past three years, listing Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iran, Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, and Palestinian militants in the West Bank.
"For the past three years, our heroic soldiers have fought day in and day out in a seven-front war. Do you know any other country the size of New Jersey, capable of fighting a seven-front war? Seven fronts – Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iran, militias in Iraq, militias in Syria, Palestinian terrorists in Judea and Samaria; they all ganged up on us to wipe us off the face of the earth," he said.
Netanyahu said Israel had responded by launching military operations against those groups.
"They failed. Because instead of collapsing, we delivered crippling blows to all of them. With our great American friends, we crushed Iran's army, navy, air force and nuclear facilities. Israel hammered Hamas. We pummeled Hezbollah," Netanyahu added.
Netanyahu holds up pager while referring to Hezbollah
“You remember the beepers? Remember these things? Remember them? Well, I can tell you this: Hezbollah certainly remembers them...Hezbollah's leaders, dead. Their spirit, broken. The arch terrorists, the worst mass murderers on earth, not only killing Israelis, killing Americans, killing Brits, killing citizens of hundreds, dozens of countries...They're all gone too. The remaining terrorists are desperately trying to regroup. Every day, they try to murder our people. And in particular, they try to murder our people in our historic homeland, in Judea,” the Israeli PM said.
The pager attack in September 2024 involved remotely detonated pagers used by Hezbollah members and killed and wounded people across Lebanon and parts of Syria.
Netanyahu rejects colonialism accusations
Netanyahu also defended Israel’s territorial policies and rejected accusations that Israel was pursuing colonialism. He invoked Jewish historical ties to the Golan Heights while criticising countries including Britain and France.
"...We weren't in Gaza. We weren't on the Golan Heights. The Jews have been on the Golan Heights since the days of Moses. You can read it in the Bible. On the eve of the Six-Day War in 1967, we weren't in any of these places. We were in a tiny sliver of land. We still are. That is equal to about one-third of 1 % of the landmass of the entire Arab world. Yet they accuse Israel, tiny Israel, of colonialism, some colonialism. And who's accusing us? Well, among them are people in Britain and in France...Colonialism gave us a break. Another lie,” Netanyahu further said.
Netanyahu attacks Qatar and Erdogan
Netanyahu accused Qatar and Turkey of spreading what he described as false narratives about Israel and criticised their relations with Hamas.
"Several foreign countries have spent untold billions to spread lies about my country. The first to do so was Qatar...Their goal was clear. Brainwash young minds to hate Israel, hate America, hate the West. This is the same Qatar that hosts the Hamas butchers of October 7th. Now the latest country to become a super spreader of anti-Semitic lies is Turkey. Erdogan is a tyrant. He also hosts the Hamas terror chiefs. He's murdered thousands of Kurdish civilians. He denies the Armenian genocide. He jails journalists and opposition leaders. In fact, I think he holds the world's record on this, and that's a tough call. But I think he's number one," he said.
Netanyahu clashes with Mamdani over Gaza allegations
Netanyahu devoted part of his address to Mamdani, accusing the New York mayor of contributing to an environment in which Jewish residents feel unsafe and of associating with people who have expressed support for Hamas.
"Mr. Mamdani, since you were elected mayor of this city, many Jews no longer feel safe in New York. They talk to me. They tell me, “This isn't the city we remember. It changed so quickly.” You praise criminals convicted of supporting Hamas. You count as friends people like Hasan Piker, who said America deserved 9/11. “America deserved 9/11.” Some friends you have. You invited to your home a Palestinian journalist who filmed Hamas terrorists beating and torturing Israeli hostages, and later admitted that he refused to publish the videos in order to protect, you guessed it, the terrorists," he further said.
He also accused Mamdani of attempting to prevent him from attending the UN and rejected allegations that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
"Your wife liked a post praising the October 7 massacre. She liked another post saying Tel Aviv shouldn't exist. You refuse to condemn any of that. You falsely and repeatedly accuse Israel of genocide. Mr. Mamdani, you try to stop me from coming here. You tried to silence me. Well, you can't silence me. You can't silence the truth. And here's the simple truth. Here's a simple truth: Israel didn't commit genocide; Israel prevented genocide," he said.
Mamdani has repeatedly criticised Netanyahu’s conduct of the Gaza war and previously referred to him as a “war criminal”. He has also disputed Netanyahu’s characterisation of his criticism of Israel as antisemitism.
Dozens of delegates walk out as Netanyahu begins speech
The Israeli prime minister’s address began with a visible protest inside the General Assembly hall, with dozens of delegates walking out as he approached the podium. The chair repeatedly called for order as Netanyahu began speaking.
Netanyahu directly addressed those who had left, saying: "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. Thank you very much."
He later argued that Israel’s actions against Iran had also benefited countries whose representatives had walked out, claiming some foreign leaders had privately thanked Israel.
Netanyahu urges Jews to ‘raise your head high’
Netanyahu also spoke about what he described as rising antisemitism and called on Jews around the world to remain confident in the face of threats.
"The anti-Semites of the world want to terrify our people. I have news for them: the days when Jews were defenseless victims, marched to the slaughter, those days are over. Today, we have a state. Today, we have an army. Today, we have a people ready and willing to defend ourselves. Today I have one message for Jews around the world: raise your head high, be proud, be confident, don't be intimidated. Stand up. Everyone else who wants to defend truth and justice, join us in standing up to the barbarians who threaten our common civilization,” he said.
Netanyahu’s address combined a defence of Israel’s military campaigns with attacks on international critics, while placing the US-Israel partnership and the confrontation with Iran at the centre of his message. Supporters in the viewing gallery gave him a standing ovation at the conclusion of his speech.
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