Netanyahu speech at UN/ Israel Hezbollah campaign/ Netanyahu rejects cease-fire/ Newslooks/ NEW YORK/ UNITED NATIONS/ Morning Edition/ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations on Friday, affirming that Israel will continue to strike Hezbollah until its objectives are met. Amid ongoing conflicts on two fronts—against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza—Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s right to defend itself and dismissed calls for a cease-fire. He insisted that Israel seeks peace, but warned that Iran’s influence in the region must end.
Netanyahu at UN: Quick Looks
- No cease-fire: Netanyahu rejected calls for a 21-day cease-fire, saying Israel will continue its campaign against Hezbollah until all objectives are met.
- Border tensions: Hezbollah’s rocket attacks from Lebanon have escalated, prompting Israeli retaliatory strikes that have displaced thousands.
- Gaza conflict: Netanyahu defended Israel’s military actions in Gaza, calling for Hamas to surrender or face “total victory.”
- Iranian threat: Netanyahu blamed Iran for regional instability, insisting that appeasement of Tehran must end.
Netanyahu at UN: Israel Will Target Hezbollah Until Goals Are Met
Deep Look
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his speech at the United Nations on Friday to make it clear that Israel will not back down from its military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, vowing to continue “degrading Hezbollah” until Israel’s objectives are fully met. His comments came amid ongoing conflicts on two fronts: against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.
Addressing world leaders, Netanyahu asserted that Israel’s military response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attacks—which sparked the Israel-Hamas war—was fully justified. He likened Israel’s situation to how the U.S. would respond if terrorists attacked American border towns, saying Israel has tolerated this situation for nearly a year, but “enough is enough.”
Targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon
In addition to the conflict in Gaza, Israel has significantly ramped up airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. Netanyahu’s speech left little room for doubt: Israel would not accept continued rocket attacks from Hezbollah, which began firing into northern Israel in support of Hamas shortly after the conflict erupted in Gaza. Ongoing cross-border fighting has displaced thousands of civilians in both Lebanon and Israel, as residents flee the violence.
“Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely,” Netanyahu said, referring to the rockets from Hezbollah. He made it clear that Israel’s goal in Lebanon is to push Hezbollah away from the border.
Calls for Cease-Fire Rejected
In recent days, the United States, France, and other international allies called for an immediate 21-day cease-fire in Lebanon to allow for negotiations. However, Netanyahu firmly rejected the possibility, stating that Israel would continue its military campaign against Hezbollah until its goals were accomplished.
The U.N. reported that over 200,000 people in Lebanon have been displaced since Hezbollah began launching rockets into Israel in early October.
Total Victory in Gaza
Netanyahu’s speech also covered Israel’s ongoing campaign in Gaza, where Israeli forces have destroyed 90% of Hamas’ rockets and either killed or captured half of its fighters. He reiterated his call for Hamas to surrender, laying down their arms and releasing hostages. He made it clear that if Hamas did not comply, Israel would fight on until it achieved “total victory.”
Netanyahu defended the heavy Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, which have reportedly killed over 41,500 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. Despite the high civilian toll, Netanyahu argued that Israel’s actions were necessary to defend itself, noting that Hamas hides among civilians, making the strikes unavoidable.
Iran’s Influence in the Region
A key part of Netanyahu’s speech was his criticism of Iran, which he blamed for much of the unrest in the region. “For too long, the world has appeased Iran,” Netanyahu declared, calling on world leaders to end that appeasement. He warned that Israel would retaliate if Iran or its proxies attempted to strike Israeli territory.
Global Reaction and Diplomatic Tensions
Netanyahu’s speech drew a strong response from other leaders. Both https://www.newslooks.com/netanyahu-israel-will-strike-hezbollah-until-objectives-achieved/ spoke out against Israel’s military actions in Gaza, with Sharif accusing Israel of carrying out a “systematic slaughter of innocent Palestinians.”
While Netanyahu’s defiant stance at the UN may resonate with those concerned about Israel’s security, his refusal to entertain the idea of a cease-fire and his pointed criticism of Iran could deepen the diplomatic divide in the international community. The next steps Israel takes—whether continuing airstrikes or potentially launching a ground invasion in Lebanon—will likely determine how the conflict unfolds in the weeks to come.
