Israel-Hezbollah latest: Jeers and cheers as Netanyahu addresses UN, saying ‘lies and slander’ forced him to attend

It would be “inconceivable” for Israel to allow Hamas to remain a part of Gaza when the war is over, says Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Imagine in a post-war situation in the Second World War, imagine allowing the defeated Nazis in 1945 to rebuild Germany,” he says.

“It’s inconceivable. It’s ridiculous. It didn’t happen then, and it’s not going to happen now.”

The Israeli prime minster says the only way he can ensure the current conflict will be the last one fought in the region is if Gaza is “demilitarised and deradicalised”.

“We don’t seek to resettle Gaza,” he adds.

The people of Israel face the same “timeless choice” Moses put before the people of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu says – whether to leave a blessing or a curse for future generations.

“The curse of Iran’s unremitting aggression, or the blessing of a historic reconciliation between Arab and Jew,” he adds, holding up two charts.

He refers to his speech at the UN General Assembly last year, when he says he made the same point.

“In the days that followed that speech, the blessing I spoke of came into sharper focus,” he says.

“A normalisation deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel seemed closer than ever. 

“But then came the curse of 7 October. Thousands of Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists from Gaza burst into Israel in pick-up trucks, on motorcycles, and they committed unimaginable atrocities.”

After declaring that Israel “is winning”Benjamin Netanyahu turns to Iran.

There is no place in Iran the “long arm” of Israel cannot reach, he tells the UN General Assembly.

The Israeli leader says that since Hamas invaded Israel, his country has been fighting on six further war fronts “organised by Iran”.

These include Hezbollah attacking Israel from Lebanon, the Houthis attacking from Yemen, Iran’s Shiite militias targeting them from Syria and Iraq, plus “Palestinian terrorists” in the West Bank and Iran attacking Israel.

“I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran. If you strike us, we will strike you,” Mr Netanyahu says to cheers from those in attendance.

“There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach. And that’s true of the entire Middle East. 

“Far from being lambs, led to the slaughter, Israel’s soldiers have fought back with incredible courage and with a rogue sacrifice.”

Beginning his speech to world leaders at the UN, Benjamin Netanyahu says he did not intend to come to the UN General Assembly this year.

But the Israeli prime minster says he changed his mind after he heard “lies and slander” levelled against Israel by “speakers at this podium”.

He did not provide further details on which speakers he was referring to or what they said.

“My country is at war, fighting for its life,” he adds.

Mr Netanyahu says Israel “yearns for peace” and “will make peace again”.

Benjamin Netanyahu is addressing the UN General Assembly in New York.

He is met with some cheers and jeers from those inside in the chamber as he walks to the lectern.

The Israeli prime minister is facing calls from world leaders to agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon as fighting continues with Hezbollah.

You can watch the live stream of his address at the top of this page and we’ll cover the key points from the speech in separate posts.

Ourinternational affairs editor Dominic Waghornsays Mr Netanyahu “loves this moment each year”.

“But he does so now isolated and facing the imminent possibility of an ICC arrest warrant,” he says.

“And G7 allies are fuming over his perceived duplicity over their ceasefire plan for Lebanon.”

By Deborah Haynes, security and defence editor

Sir Keir Starmer did not meet Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly despite hopes on the British side of talks, Sky News understands.

A source with knowledge of the trip said their “diaries” did not align.

In addition, a planned meeting between the prime minister and Ron Dermer, Israel’s minister of strategic affairs, was cancelled because the senior Israeli official had delayed his travel to the United Nations General Assembly by a day.

The absence of talks between the British and Israeli leaders came despite Israel significantly expanding an offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, prompting calls by the UK and other allies for an immediate ceasefire amid fears of escalation into a regional war.

It also followed condemnation by Mr Netanyahu of a decision by the UK government to suspend some arms export licences to Israel, describing it earlier this month as a shameful move that would embolden Hamas – another Iran-backed militant group that the Israeli military is fighting.

The source said that a meeting between Sir Keir and Mr Netanyahu in New York had not been pre-planned – but there had been hopes it might happen.

“I think there were definitely attempts [to arrange talks] but the diaries just did not work,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“We were hopeful for a meeting” but one was not agreed.

The Jewish Chronicle newspaper also reported that the two leaders did not meet despite both being in New York at the same time.

It quoted Downing Street sources as insisting this was not a snub and that the government is “in touch with the Israelis all the time”.

By contrast, the British prime minister did hold talks with his Lebanese counterpart.

Sir Keir gave Najib Mikati his “sincere condolences… for the loss of civilian life in recent weeks”Downing Street said in a statement.

“They discussed the escalating conflict in Lebanon, and agreed on the importance of an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated solution.”

The British leader used his maiden address at the UN General Assembly to call for Israel and Hezbollah – which is backed by Iran and whose military wing is considered by the UK to be a terrorist organisation – to agree to a ceasefire, saying “escalation serves no one”.

Sir Keir implored the two sides to “step back from the brink”.

Lebanon’s health minister says 25 people have been killed by Israeli strikes on the country since the early hours of today.

One attack killed nine members of a family, including fourchildren, in the border town of Shebaa, according to its mayor (see 08.36 post).

The health ministry said more than 600 people in Lebanon have now been killed inIsraeli attacks since Monday.

The ongoing war in Gaza will set children and young people’s education back by up to five years, according to a new study.

The report, written by researchers from Cambridge University and the United Nations relief and works agency for Palestine refugees, says the war risks a “lost generation” of traumatised Palestinian children.

According to the UN’s coordination of humanitarian affairs office, more than 10,600 children and 400 teachers have been killed in Israeli military operations, with hundreds of thousands of young people displaced.

Satellite images have verified that more than 90 per cent of schools have been damaged, many beyond repair, the report adds.

The most optimistic prediction – assuming an immediate ceasefire and rapid international effort to rebuild the education system – is that students will lose two years of learning, the report says.

If the fighting continues until 2026, the losses could stretch to five years.

Professor Maha Shuayb, director of the Centre for Lebanese Studies, said: “Young people’s prospects in Gaza are being extinguished and our findings show that with it they are losing hope. 

“Education is central to stabilising that spiral of decline. If it is simply erased, the consequences will be far-reaching.”

Israel’s military says it has now fully mobilised two reserve brigades to its northern border with Lebanon “for operational missions”.

The move was first announced b y the Israel Defence Forces on Wednesday.

The IDF said new troops received logistical equipment and combat gear upon arrival.

For context:This week, the head of the IDF told troops the military was preparing for a ground invasion of Lebanon.

Entering the country “will show [Hezbollah] what it means to face a professional, highly skilled and battle-experienced force”Herzi Halev received.

The Yemen-based, Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim to have targeted Tel Aviv – and the coastal city of Ashkelon to its south – with a ballistic missile and a drone.

The Israeli army said it had earlier intercepted a missile that was fired from Yemen after sirens and explosions were heard.

“We will carry out more military operations against theIsraeli enemy in victory for the blood of our brothers inPalestine and Lebanon,” said Yahya Sarea, the Houthi’s military spokesman, in a televised speech.

For context: The Houthis govern swathes of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, more than 1,000 miles from Israel. 

It has blamed Israel for instability in the Middle East, saying the “circle of conflict” in the region was driven by its “continued crimes”.