The United Nations 80th General Assembly should have been a stage to discuss the future of peace in the age of artificial intelligence. Sadly, it turned out to be one of the most divisive sessions, dominated by Palestine rather than Israel. This gathering proved that Palestine cannot be brushed aside as an idea, even when backed by a world power.
Not many member states were eager to listen to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 26 — not least Hamas, the enemy he has been obsessed with for the last two years. Netanyahu tried his best to address Hamas directly, despite a boycott of his speech.
The biased Western media counted the boycotters in dozens, even as Netanyahu spoke to an almost empty General Assembly Hall. Diplomats from Arab and Muslim countries walked out, joined by counterparts from several African and some European nations. The Israeli leader claimed that his intelligence agencies had hacked cell phones across Gaza and used them to broadcast his speech. However, he offered nothing new to the world or to Hamas. He only demanded, for the umpteenth time, the immediate release of the remaining hostages.
Israel claims to be one of the world’s leading technological powers, especially in military applications. It enjoys full backing from the mightier United States. We have seen some of their high-tech gimmicks—exploding pagers, for instance. So why, despite this military muscle and technical superiority, have they failed to secure the release of the remaining hostages? And how can they hope to achieve the even more ambitious goal of eliminating Hamas?
Of the 48 hostages left in Gaza, Netanyahu says 20 may still be alive. Despite focusing on the narrow 41-kilometre stretch of land for two years, his high-tech drones and well-armed ground forces have been unable to rescue them. Netanyahu has vowed that he will not rest until all hostages have been brought home.
During his address, the Israeli leader wore a large white badge on his lapel displaying a QR code. He encouraged the audience to scan it, linking to a website about the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. This seemed to be an attempt to promote the perception that he remains obsessed with the objective he set nearly 730 days ago.
However, the world remains confused about his ultimate goals: Is it finishing Hamas, killing all Palestinians, or creating Greater Israel? The gimmickry continued in New York. Netanyahu’s office organized a public diplomacy campaign in the city, including billboards and trucks displaying the message: “Remember October 7” in Times Square and near the UN building.
Meanwhile, support for Israel among Americans has dropped significantly since the start of the Gaza war. According to Pew Research Center’s April 2025 report, Netanyahu appeared more isolated than ever at the world’s biggest forum. His policy inflexibility has alienated some former allies. A growing number of Western countries feel compelled to recognize Palestinian statehood.
Countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Portugal, and France have made this belated decision, much to Netanyahu’s displeasure.
Just days before his appearance, on September 12, a vote took place at the UN General Assembly. Out of 193 member states, 142 voted in favor of a declaration calling for the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question and the implementation of a two-state solution with Israel. The “New York Declaration” was a result of an international conference held at UN Headquarters in July, organized by France and Saudi Arabia.
Ten nations, including Israel and the United States, opposed the declaration. The other eight opposing countries were Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Tonga. Twelve nations abstained from the vote. This outcome clearly shows the limited support Tel Aviv currently enjoys.
Netanyahu’s diminishing support is not limited to countries—it reflects a fundamental shift in American public opinion. The Pew Research Center’s report highlights that only 54 percent of Americans now say the Israeli-Palestinian war is relevant to them, marking an 11-point drop since January 2024. Moreover, those who believe the conflict is significant to U.S. national interests have decreased from 75 to 66 percent.
The United States, Israel’s staunchest ally, is showing signs of fatigue. Former President Donald Trump declared that any Israeli attempt to annex parts of the West Bank would be a red line for him. Despite these signals, Netanyahu has yet to grasp the message Western nations are sending through long-overdue recognition of Palestinian statehood: enough is enough. Israel cannot have an indefinite license to kill; there are limits—and those limits have been crossed.
His speech, filled with spin and allegations of anti-Semitism, went largely unheard. Netanyahu is increasingly isolated, and the sooner he realizes this, the better it may be—for him and for world peace.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, since October 7, 2023, over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed. The pressing question remains: How much more killing is needed?
Above all, Netanyahu’s speech lacked a clear roadmap. For those rooting for peace, that absence was the most alarming element of all.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1348318-no-method-to-netanyahus-madness
