In an escalatory speech before the UN General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked Iran, Turkey, Hezbollah, and Qatar, justifying Israeli strikes on Iran by saying "If we had not struck Iran, we would have been counted among the dead." He pulled out a pager while in the General Assembly hall, saying: "Do you remember these pagers? Hezbollah certainly remembers them." He also said "it is a matter of time before something unbelievable in Iran," referred to the Golan Heights claiming Jews were there in biblical times, and concluded "We will win." He added that Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis sought to "erase Israel" and are working to arrange their ranks to target Israel. Delegations responded by withdrawing from the session.
Netanyahu attacked Qatar, saying it "brainwashes youth to hate Israel" and hosts Hamas leaders, and accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of calling for Israel's destruction and seeking to control Jerusalem, adding that Turkey hosts Hamas leaders, kills journalists and opponents, occupies northern Cyprus, threatens Greece, and seeks to control Syria. He also attacked Britain and France for accusing "little Israel" of colonialism, and questioned the future of European leaders who chose not to stand by Israel. He denied that the military operation in Gaza is genocide, and attacked New York Mayor Mamdani, saying many Jews no longer feel safe in the city since his election.
In reactions, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Netanyahu missed a historic opportunity to declare Qatar an enemy and reveal its involvement in the October 7 massacre, while head of the Democrats Party Yair Golan expressed surprise at Netanyahu's accusations against Qatar. Defense Minister Israel Katz congratulated Netanyahu on his speech, considering he sent a clear message that Israel will not bow. In New York, Netanyahu met with the Greek Prime Minister. In a security development, the Israeli army announced that civilians who crossed to the barrier area with Gaza were evacuated and returned safely.