Live updates: World leaders gather in New York for 2025 United Nations General Assembly

1 day ago

Netanyahu claims his UN speech carried on cellphones in Gaza

From Mike Brest

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday was broadcast on the cellphones of Palestinians in Gaza and on loudspeakers near the border.

“Thanks to special efforts by Israeli intelligence, my words are now also being carried — they’re streamed live to the cellphones of Gaza. So, to the remaining Hamas leaders and to the jailers of our hostages, I now say, ‘Lay down your arms,’” proclaimed Netanyahu, whose speech was boycotted by dozens of representatives.

Netanyahu’s claim would be another feather in the cap of Israel’s intelligence apparatus. Israel pulled off elaborate schemes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, in which they rigged both beepers and walkie-talkies used by the terrorists to explode.

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1 day ago

Irish leader calls Israel’s campaign in Gaza an ‘affront to human dignity’

From Ross O'Keefe

Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin called Israel’s war in Gaza an “affront to human dignity” in his United Nations address.

Ireland was one of the first Western European countries to recognize a Palestinian state, doing so in May 2024.

“Nobody can ever say we did not know what is happening in Gaza cannot be justified or defended,”
he said. “It is an affront to human dignity and decency. It is an abandonment of all norms, all international rules and law.”

He also slammed Israel specifically for several alleged acts against Gazans.

“We are witnessing hunger being used as an instrument of war,” he said.

“Babies starving to death while aid rots at the border, people shot while desperately seeking food for their families, the deliberate targeting and destruction of schools, hospitals, mosques, cultural institutions, the killing of doctors, aid workers, journalists, dislocation and displacement over and over. We are all witnesses to the immense wrath of one of the world’s most modern and best-equipped armies brought to bear on a trapped and defenseless civilian population,” he added.

1 day ago

Netanyahu’s speech sees thousands of protesters outside United Nations

From Ross O'Keefe

Thousands of protesters marched to the United Nations on Friday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech.

Many demonstrators condemned the actions of Netanyahu and the suffering in Gaza.

Signs seen in New York City read things such as, “Netanyahu=Hamas’s $pon$or,” or “Don’t let him destroy Israel.” A mask was seen imitating Netanyahu’s face with blood trickling down it, with the label, “Murderer,” in black and red on its forehead.

A crowd marching to the U.N. chanted, “Netanyahu, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide!” the New York Times reported. The outlet noted nearly 2,000 protesters were marching by the time Netanyahu finished his speech.

1 day ago

Chinese premier blames economic stagnation on protectionism and ‘tariff hikes’

From Ross O'Keefe

China’s Qiang pointed to protectionism and “tariff hikes” for worldwide economic stagnation.

The statement appears to warn President Donald Trump from continuing his trade war with China and his taxation of many other nations.

“A major cause of the current global economic doldrums is the rise in unilateral and protectionist measures such as tariff hikes and erection of walls and barriers,” he said.

“We should collaborate more closely to identify and expand convergence of interests, promote universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and help each other succeed by moving forward in the same direction,” he added.

1 day ago

Chinese premier warns of resurfacing ‘cold war mentality’

From Ross O'Keefe

Chinese Premier Li Qiang warned of a resurfacing “cold war mentality” during his United Nations address.

Tensions between the United States and China have been referred to as a second Cold War. President Donald Trump has singled out the country with considerable tariffs, sparking an intensifying trade war.

“Only when all countries, big or small, are treated as equals, and true multilateralism is practiced, can the rights and interests of all parties be better protected at present,” he said. “The world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. Unilateralism and cold war mentality are resurfacing.”

“The international rules and order built over the past 80 years are under serious challenge, and the once effective international system is constantly disrupted,” he added.

1 day ago

Pakistani prime minister supports freedom of Palestinians from ‘Israeli shackles’ and thanks Trump for peace efforts

From Ross O'Keefe

Pakistan’s Sharif expressed his support for freeing Palestinians from “Israeli shackles” during his United Nations address.

“Palestine can no longer remain under Israeli shackles. It must be liberated with full force,” he said, while hitting his hand against the podium.

He also thanked President Donald Trump for peace efforts concerning his country and India, reiterating his call to nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize.

1 day ago

Pakistani prime minister claims victory in conflict with India

From Ross O'Keefe

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif claimed victory in his country’s conflict with India during his United Nations speech.

Pakistan warred with India for a few days in May before a ceasefire was negotiated.

“Our valiant armed forces, under the steady leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, mounted an operation of stunning professionalism, bravery, and acumen, repulsing the enemy’s attack under Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar,” he said.

“Our Falcons took flight and etched their answer across the skies, resulting in seven of the Indian jets turned to scrap and dust. A decisive response to the aggressor that will echo through the annals of history, to the fairest architects of this victory, to every officer and soldier, heirs of our martyrs. Their names are forever engraved in glory, to the mothers of our martyrs. Their courage guides our path forward, and the sacrifice shall never be in vain. Inshallah, God willing,” he added.

1 day ago

Netanyahu sees a brighter Middle East future with ‘forward-looking Arabs and Muslim leaders’

From Ross O'Keefe

Netanyahu praised Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population, for the country’s “encouraging words” while noting the future can look bright with “forward-looking Arab and Muslim leaders.”

The Israeli leader said the Middle East could look very different in the coming years, and that he was open to sharing “groundbreaking Israeli technologies” with Arab and Muslim leaders.

“This is the country with the largest Muslim population of all nations, and it’s also a sign of what could come,” he said of Indonesia.

“Forward-looking Arabs and Muslim leaders know that cooperating with Israel will provide them with groundbreaking Israeli technologies, including in medicine, in science, in agriculture and water, in defense, and AI, and so many other fields. I believe that in the coming years, the Middle East will look dramatically different,” he added.

1 day ago

Opposition to Palestinian state is ‘not a fringe’ stance in Israel, says Netanyahu

From Ross O'Keefe

Netanyahu said that opposition to a Palestinian state “is not a fringe” stance in Israel.

He noted that Israel’s Knesset held a vote on whether to recognize a Palestinian state, and 99 voted against the action out of 120 members.

“Last year, there was a vote in the Knesset, our parliament, whether or not to oppose the imposition of a Palestinian state,” he said.

“You want to guess what the results were out of 120 members of our parliament? Ninety-nine voted against, and only nine supported. That’s over 90%. It’s not a fringe group.
It’s not the prime minister who himself is extreme, or [that] he’s held hostage by extreme parties. To his right, it’s over 90% of Israelis,” he added.

1 day ago

Netanyahu responds to countries’ recognition of Palestinian statehood

From Ross O'Keefe

Netanyahu slammed the Palestinian Authority, questioning its “moderate” label, and calling it
“corrupt to the core.”

The Palestinian Authority is the official governing body for the West Bank, over which it exercises only partial control.

“The Palestinian Authority is corrupt to the core. They haven’t held elections in 20 years. They use the same textbooks as Hamas, exactly the same textbooks. They teach their children to hate Jews and destroy the Jewish state, and Christians don’t fare much better,” he said.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of “genocide” on Thursday and said Hamas will not govern Gaza after the war with Israel ends.

1 day ago

Netanyahu makes argument for why Israel isn’t committing genocide in Gaza

From Ross O'Keefe

Netanyahu questioned why Israel is accused of genocide in Gaza when they have actively tried to evacuate citizens.

The Gaza Health Ministry said earlier this week that just over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war against Hamas. The ministry’s casualty numbers have been disputed.

“Now, despite Hamas’ threats, close to 700,000 Gazans, almost three-quarters of a million, have already heeded our calls and moved to safe zones,” he said. “I want to ask a simple question, a simple logical question: Would a country committing genocide plead with the civilian population it is supposedly targeting to get out of harm’s way?”

“Wouldn’t we tell them: get out. If we want to commit genocide — we’re trying to get them out, and Hamas is trying to keep them in,” he added.

1 day ago

Eric Adams sits with Israel delegation at UN

From Ross O'Keefe

Reporters spotted New York City Mayor Eric Adams sitting with the Israeli delegation at the United Nations.

Adams was seated during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech.

The mayor is an ardent supporter of Israel and is running against Democratic-socialist Zohran Mamdani to keep his office.

Mamdani has said that, if he were elected, he would arrest Netanyahu if he came to New York City.

1 day ago

Netanyahu thanks Trump for Iran nuclear site strikes

From Joseph Nepomuceno

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked President Donald Trump for his strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites in “Operation Midnight Hammer.”

“I want to thank President Trump for his bold and decisive action. President Trump and I promised to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and we delivered on that promise,” Netanyahu said. “We removed an existential threat to Iran, to Israel, rather, and a mortal threat to the civilized world.”

But Netanyahu also cautioned, “We must remain absolutely clear-minded and vigilant. We must not allow Iran to rebuild its military nuclear capacities or its stockpiles of enriched uranium. These stockpiles must be eliminated, and tomorrow, U.N. Security Council sanctions on Iran must be snapped back.”

This referenced the incoming automatic deadline for the U.N. to sanction Iran over its blocking of international inspector access to its nuclear sites.

1 day ago

Netanyahu runs ‘pop quiz’ highlighting Iran-aligned groups

From Keely Bastow

About 15 minutes into Netanyahu’s U.N. address, he pulled out a few note cards with quiz questions on them.

“So let’s do something else. A first at the U.N., let’s do a pop quiz. And raise your hand if you know the answer,” he said, holding a large card. “Here’s the first question. Who shouts Death to America? Is it? A, Iran, B, Hamas, C, Hezbollah, D, the Houthis, or E, all of the above? All of the above, correct, all of the above.”

He also asked, “Who has murdered Europeans in cold blood?” The answer was again all of the above, including al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.

“Here’s the point I wanted to make: Our enemies hate all of us with equal venom. They want to drag the modern world back to the past, to a dark age of violence, fanaticism, and terror,” Netanyahu said.

1 day ago

Netanyahu directly addresses Hamas: ‘Let my people go’

From Ross O'Keefe

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu broadcast his United Nations message live to Gazans, ordering Hamas to “let my people go.”

Netanyahu said that Israeli intelligence assisted in streaming the message through the cellphones of Gazans.

“Thanks to special efforts by Israeli intelligence, my words are now also being carried. They’re streamed live through the cellphones of Gazans, so to the remaining Hamas leaders and to the jailers of our hostages, I now say, lay down your arms. Let my people go. Free the hostages, all of them, the whole 48. Free the hostages. Now,” he said.

“If you do, you will live. If you don’t, Israel will hunt you down,” he added.

Netanyahu also noted his message was being broadcast to Gazans on speakers that Israel placed in the Gaza Strip.