Netanyahu addresses UN as Hamas signals readiness on Gaza plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel’s actions and his decision to attack Iran before the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, September 24, as delegates left the chamber. At the same time, Hamas said it was ready to advance a Gaza peace roadmap, while a European Union official said only a fraction of the estimated funds needed to rebuild the territory had been raised. As Netanyahu approached the rostrum, delegates departed and the hall was left with many empty seats, according to an account of the session. Netanyahu called those who walked out “moral cowards” and said attacking Iran had been one of the easiest decisions he had made. He also rejected allegations of genocide in Gaza, describing them as “the biggest lie of the century,” according to his remarks. Netanyahu’s address came amid international criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The immediate circumstances surrounding the speech included a visible protest inside the assembly, but the supplied accounts do not establish how many delegates left. Netanyahu arrived in New York on Thursday and was scheduled to meet several leaders; no meeting with U.S.