Benjamin Netanyahu vows to blast leaders recognising Palestine during UN speech

Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to condemn leaders of countries which have recognised Palestinian statehood when he addresses the UN tomorrow.

The Israeli PM made the vow on Thursday before flying to the US for the United Nations General Assembly in New York. His comments come after the UK was among nations including France and Canada which recognised Palestine as a state this month.

Keir Starmer said the historic move was “a pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future" – as the PM also branded the “starvation and devastation” in famine-stricken Gaza “utterly intolerable”.

But, speaking at Israel 's Ben Gurion Airport, Netanyahu said: “At the UN, I will tell our truth – citizens of Israel, the truth of IDF soldiers, of our state. I will condemn those leaders who, instead of condemning the murderers, rapists and burners of children, want to give them a state in the heart of Israel. This will not happen.”

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Netanyahu is also due to meet President Donald Trump on his visit. The Israeli PM added: “I will discuss with him the great opportunities our victories have brought, and our need to complete the war objectives: To return all of our hostages, to defeat Hamas and to expand the circle of peace that has occurred for us in the wake of our historic victory in Operation Rising Lion and the other victories that we have achieved.”

On Monday ahead of the opening of the UN General Assembly meetings, France, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco announced or confirmed their recognition of a Palestinian state in the hopes of galvanizing support for a two-state solution.

Their announcements came a day after the UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal did the same, in defiance of Israel and the US.

On Thursday, children were among at least 17 people killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to health officials.

A dozen people were killed in an Israeli attack on the central town of Zawaida that hit a tent and a house, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah.

Eight children were among the victims, according to the hospital – and family members said another girl was still under the rubble.

The hospital said another girl was killed in an airstrike that hit a tent in Deir al-Balah, and that it was caring for seven others injured in that attack.

In the southern city of Khan Younis, another Israeli attack hit an apartment building, killing four people, according to the Nasser Hospital where the bodies were taken.

Next month marks two years since war started in Gaza, sparked by Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel which killed about 1,200 people – with 251 hostages taken.

Over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war in Gaza, according to health ministry figures.