Thousands protest against Netanyahu's speech at the UN in New York.
Protesters denounced the bombings in Gaza and demanded an end to US support for Israel, while delegations walked out of the General Assembly.
247 - Thousands of people took to the streets of New York this Friday (26) to protest against the speech of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly. According to information released by Global Times and by New York TimesThe protesters gathered in Times Square from the early hours of the morning, carrying Palestinian flags and signs with slogans such as “End All US Aid to Israel” (“End of US aid to Israel”), "Arrest Netanyahu" (“Arrest Netanyahu”) and Stop Starving Gaza Now! ("Stop starving Gaza to death now").
The Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that, during Netanyahu's speech, several heads of state left the General Assembly plenary in protest. The reaction was met with applause and shouts of support among the demonstrators who were watching from outside.
Protests also in the Middle East
The streets weren't only buzzing in New York. On the same day, tens of thousands of Yemenis marched in cities like Sana'a and Hodeidah against Israeli attacks and in solidarity with the people of Gaza. According to China Central Television, participants chanted slogans against Israel and the United States, carrying Yemeni and Palestinian flags.
Netanyahu's speech and recognition of Palestine.
Speaking from the UN podium, Netanyahu attacked the countries that, in recent days, announced their recognition of the State of Palestine, including France, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Australia, and Canada. "Do you know what message the leaders who recognized a Palestinian state this week sent to the Palestinians? It's a very clear message. Killing Jews pays," the Israeli prime minister stated, according to Xinhua.
More than 150 member states of the United Nations have already recognized Palestine, supporting the two-state solution. Despite this, Netanyahu reiterated his rejection of the proposal: “My opposition to a Palestinian state is not simply my policy or that of my government. It is the policy of the State and the people of Israel.”
The Palestinian response
In a video conference message, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas recalled that Palestine recognized Israel's right to exist in 1988 and again in 1993. He accused Israel of promoting a "genocide" in Gaza: "I speak to you today after almost two years in which our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip have faced a war of genocide, destruction, famine, and displacement. The genocide has been carried out by the Israeli occupation forces, who have killed and wounded more than 220 Palestinians."
Hamas also reacted to the episode, highlighting that the boycott of Netanyahu's speech symbolizes Israel's international isolation. "Boycotting Netanyahu's speech is one of the manifestations of Israel's isolation and the consequences of the war of extermination," said Taher al-Nunu, press advisor to the group's political leadership, in a statement reproduced by [source missing]. France 24 program.
The UN and the pursuit of peace
In early September, the UN General Assembly approved the New York Declaration on the Two-State Solution, the result of an international conference held in July. The text establishes a roadmap for implementing the proposal for coexistence between Israel and Palestine, considered by a large part of the international community as the most viable path to peace in the Middle East.
