Benjamin Netanyahu addresses UN and faces reports of pre-October 7 restraint

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly, where he defended Israel's military actions and rejected accusations of genocide, calling such claims ‘the biggest lie of the century.’ During his speech, he referred to opponents as ‘barbarians’ and ‘monsters,’ while listing several deceased leaders from Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

Separately, reports from Israeli broadcaster Kanal 13, citing security consultation protocols, suggest that in the days leading up to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, Netanyahu instructed security forces to avoid military escalation in the Gaza Strip. The reports indicate he sought to minimize escalation through intelligence-led actions and humanitarian measures, potentially to avoid jeopardizing normalization talks with Saudi Arabia. The Prime Minister's office has rejected these claims.