Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he will use his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday to strongly criticise countries that have formally recognised a Palestinian state. Before leaving for New York, Netanyahu declared at Ben Gurion Airport that “there will be no Palestinian state,” casting the move by several Western governments as rewarding terrorism.
He pledged to tell “the truth” about Israel, its citizens and soldiers, and to “denounce those leaders who, instead of denouncing murderers, rapists and child burners, want to give them a state in the heart of the Land of Israel.” His language echoes long-standing Israeli claims that Palestinian political groups such as Hamas are inseparable from acts of violence, though it risks conflating militants with the broader Palestinian population seeking statehood.
On Wednesday, Netanyahu’s office released a statement calling Western recognitions of Palestine “a shameful capitulation to terror” that does not bind Israel. Six European countries — including France and Belgium — announced recognition this week, signalling growing frustration with Washington’s handling of the Gaza war and Israel’s conduct.
Netanyahu also said he will meet former U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday for their fourth meeting since Israel’s offensive began. He framed the talks as an opportunity to consolidate “victories” from recent military operations, secure the return of Israeli hostages, defeat Hamas and expand regional normalisation agreements. However, the meeting follows a surprise Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar that reportedly undermined U.S. mediation efforts for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange, straining ties with Washington.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has faced mounting criticism from humanitarian groups and allied governments over civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction. Britain, France, Canada and Australia were among the states recognising Palestine just before or during the UN session, despite Trump’s warnings that such moves “reward” Hamas. Speaking at the UN, Trump reiterated his support for Israel and argued that international recognition “encourages continued conflict.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, however, countered that the U.S. holds unique leverage over Israel due to its military aid and could do more to halt the war. “There is one person who can do something about it, and that is the U.S. president,” Macron told BFM TV in New York.
Meanwhile, Washington has been consulting regional leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan on post-war governance in Gaza. Reports indicate the Biden administration wants Arab and Muslim states to provide security forces to manage the territory without Hamas involvement — an idea that remains controversial and logistically unclear.
