New York — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address the United Nations General Assembly on Friday amid rising international criticism of Israel’s offensive in Gaza and a wave of diplomatic moves that officials and analysts say have left Israel increasingly isolated on the world stage.
The speech comes after days of intense debate at the U.N., where dozens of countries called for an immediate ceasefire, unfettered humanitarian access to Gaza and accountability for what many diplomats described as disproportionate and indiscriminate attacks. Several Western nations have formally recognized a Palestinian state in recent days, a step that Israeli leaders have condemned as undermining prospects for peace.
Netanyahu — who has defended Israel’s campaign as necessary to defeat Hamas after the group’s deadly October 2023 assault — is expected to use the U.N. platform to justify his government’s actions, press for international backing against what he calls terrorism, and denounce recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood as misguided. His visit to New York has already prompted protests outside U.N. headquarters and tense exchanges between Israeli and Palestinian representatives.
The international backlash has included sharply worded speeches from world leaders and human rights groups warning that Israel’s conduct risks grave civilian harm in Gaza. Some governments have also raised the prospect of legal and diplomatic consequences, deepening the sense among Western capitals that Israel must alter its approach or face growing costs.
Inside Israel, the government has defended its strategy and argued that extraordinary measures are required to secure the country and bring home hostages taken by Hamas. Still, the diplomatic fallout has prompted heated debate among Israeli policymakers about how to balance security objectives with the political and economic risks of widening international isolation.
Analysts say the U.N. address is likely to be both a defensive effort — to shore up support among allies and domestic audiences — and an attempt to shift the narrative away from criticism of Israel’s military tactics. Observers in New York expect a charged atmosphere at the General Assembly, with protests, counterstatements from Palestinian and allied delegations, and close scrutiny from diplomats and media around the world.
As the world watches, the Netanyahu speech may be a defining moment in how the international community frames the Gaza conflict in the months ahead — whether as a security fight against terrorism that some governments will continue to back, or as a humanitarian and legal crisis prompting broader action and isolation for Israel.
