Israel’s Netanyahu hits back at widespread criticism in U.N. address

Updated on: September 24, 2026 / 2:07 PM EDT / CBS News

Tel Aviv — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday as his country faces broad condemnation and growing isolation over Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

Netanyahu arrived in New York early Thursday morning and is due to leave just a few hours after his speech.

Leaders from Europe and the Middle East, including France, the U.K., Jordan, Syria, Qatar and Turkey, devoted at least some of their time at the U.N. podium Wednesday to harshly denounce Israel.

Analysts say Netanyahu will take advantage of the critical focus on Israel to demonstrate his ability to defend his country on the international stage just weeks before a tightly contested Israeli election.

It will be an unusually brief trip to New York for Netanyahu during the General Assembly. He has often capitalized on the autumn visits to meet with other world leaders, particularly the American president and secretary of state.

His office said he would meet Thursday with the presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Panama and Ethiopia, the vice president of Colombia, and the prime ministers of Greece…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/world/