NEWYORK: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in September 2024 was punctuated by more than just diplomatic platitudes. It came amid rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza and Lebanon, where Israel’s military engagements have dramatically escalated. The speech was marked by the walkout of several delegates, underlining the mounting frustration within the international community regarding Netanyahu’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the broader regional instability. The speech’s timing, shortly after a fresh wave of violence in Gaza and the increasing threat of conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, has only fueled further debate.
This analysis will delve into the key points of Netanyahu’s speech, the walkout by certain delegates, and the grim realities on the ground, especially concerning the mounting death tolls in Gaza and Lebanon. It will also highlight the contradictions in Netanyahu’s statements compared to the evolving situation on the ground.
Netanyahu’s Speech: What Was Said and What Wasn’t !
In his speech, Netanyahu painted Israel as a beacon of democracy and technological prowess, emphasizing its achievements and aspirations. He underscored Israel’s diplomatic success, particularly the **Abraham Accords** signed in 2020, which normalized relations with several Arab nations. However, Netanyahu largely ignored the ongoing violence in Gaza and tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon, which were central issues for many international observers.
Key Points:
Iran as the Primary Threat: Netanyahu described Iran as the most significant destabilizing force in the Middle East, singling out its nuclear ambitions and its role in funding militant groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, this focus on Iran appeared to be an attempt to divert attention away from Israel’s escalating conflicts with Palestinians and Hezbollah.
Normalization Without Palestine: Netanyahu framed the Abraham Accords as a breakthrough for peace in the Middle East, sidestepping the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While Israel’s relations with the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco have improved, critics pointed out that these agreements bypass the core issue: the Palestinian quest for statehood and self-determination. Many nations, especially those walking out, viewed this omission as a tacit acknowledgment that Israel has no intention of seriously addressing Palestinian statehood.
Security Over Sovereignty: Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense, referring to the rocket attacks from Gaza and threats from Hezbollah as evidence of the necessity of strong security measures. However, he failed to address the disproportionate impact these security measures have had on Palestinian civilians, fueling accusations of human rights violations.
Delegate Walkouts: A Visible Sign of International Dissent
As Netanyahu spoke, a number of delegates from countries such as Turkey, Malaysia, Iran, and South Africa walked out in protest. This visible act of dissent symbolized the frustration of many nations regarding Netanyahu’s avoidance of discussing Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank. For these countries, the lack of any meaningful mention of Palestinian statehood or the dire humanitarian situation was a glaring omission that could not go unchallenged.
Rising Tensions in Gaza: Toll of Conflict
The walkout comes against the backdrop of intense violence in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes have taken a severe toll on the civilian population. Following a series of rocket attacks on southern Israel by Palestinian militant groups, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in late August 2024. The cycle of retaliation escalated quickly, leading to significant civilian casualties on both sides, though the toll has been far heavier in Gaza.
Casualties and Displacement: As of mid-September 2024, over 1,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes, with hundreds of them being women and children. The strikes have also left more than 5,000 injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Israeli authorities report 35 deaths on their side, primarily due to rocket attacks by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants.
Humanitarian Crisis: The bombings have severely damaged Gaza’s already fragile infrastructure, cutting off access to clean water and medical supplies for nearly 2 million residents. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has reported that nearly 50,000 people have been displaced in Gaza, taking refuge in overcrowded schools and shelters. Israeli restrictions on the movement of goods and people into Gaza have exacerbated this humanitarian crisis, drawing widespread international condemnation.
Despite these conditions, Netanyahu’s speech did not address the dire humanitarian situation, fueling accusations of insensitivity to the suffering of Palestinians and perpetuating Israel’s image as solely concerned with security at the expense of human rights.
The Lebanon Factor: Escalating Tensions with Hezbollah
Another glaring omission from Netanyahu’s speech was the brewing conflict on Israel’s northern front, particularly with Hezbollah in Lebanon. In recent months, tensions have escalated between Israel and Hezbollah, with skirmishes along the Israel-Lebanon border in September 2024 raising fears of a full-blown conflict.
Cross-Border Clashes: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have reported multiple rocket attacks and cross-border infiltrations by Hezbollah fighters. These incidents have prompted retaliatory strikes by Israel, leading to the deaths of 45 Hezbollah militants, according to Israeli military sources, while Lebanese sources put the figure at 70, including civilians.
Displacement and Casualties in Lebanon: Hezbollah’s missile strikes have also resulted in civilian casualties in northern Israel, while Israeli retaliatory strikes in southern Lebanon have displaced at least 10,000 Lebanese civilians. UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, has been working to de-escalate tensions, but the fragile peace is hanging by a thread.
Hezbollah’s increased military activity has been tied to both its alignment with Iran and growing frustration over Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories. Analysts argue that Netanyahu’s speech, with its sole focus on Iran as the region’s destabilizer, neglected to address the direct threat posed by Hezbollah and its complex entanglements in Lebanese politics and society.
Contradictions and Misinformation:
Netanyahu’s speech at the UNGA contained several statements that were either misleading or in direct contradiction to the facts on the ground:
“Israel seeks peace”:
Netanyahu frequently invokes Israel’s desire for peace, but the continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank and the blockade of Gaza paint a different picture. Since 2020, Israeli settlement construction has increased by 25%, a fact that undermines any meaningful prospect for a two-state solution.
“Iran is the sole destabilizer”:
While Netanyahu focused on Iran’s influence in the region, he failed to acknowledge Israel’s role in destabilizing its neighbors through its military actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Critics argue that while Iran does pose a threat, Israel’s ongoing occupation and military actions also contribute significantly to regional instability.
Humanitarian Contradictions: Netanyahu’s claim that Israel upholds human rights starkly contrasts with the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Multiple reports by international organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have accused Israel of violating international law, particularly through the targeting of civilian infrastructure and disproportionate use of force.
A Diplomatic Facade Masking a Grim Reality !
Netanyahu’s speech at the 79th UNGA offered a well-rehearsed narrative of Israel as a modern, democratic state seeking peace and security in a volatile region. However, the facts on the ground tell a different story. With hundreds of civilians dying in Gaza and tensions flaring along the Lebanese border, Israel’s military actions are contributing to a growing humanitarian disaster that Netanyahu conveniently ignored in his address.
The walkout of delegates symbolized the international community’s dissatisfaction with Israel’s policies and Netanyahu’s reluctance to address the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As the violence continues in Gaza and Lebanon, and as regional tensions escalate, Netanyahu’s diplomatic rhetoric appears increasingly disconnected from the realities on the ground. Whether Israel can truly achieve peace without resolving these deep-seated conflicts remains a pressing question for the global community.
As the region teeters on the brink of broader conflict and humanitarian crises intensify, the world is left asking: How long can Israel’s leadership continue to deflect, while lives are lost and peace slips further from reach? The time for real answers is now!
-Dr. Shahid Siddiqui; X @shahidsiddiqui
