Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the UN General Assembly Hall in New York for the 80th session wearing a pin with a QR code printed on it which, when scanned, links to the horrific footage of the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. The Times of Israel reports that this was so people could see why Israel is fighting and why they must win the war in Gaza that began that day.
In his speech to the assembly, Netanyahu outlined both the challenges Israel faces, and its path to victory:
In Gaza, too, Israel has more work to do, Netanyahu maintained, warning that stopping before Hamas is completely defeated risks allowing the terror group to make good on its pledge to carry out October 7-like attacks “again and again.”
“That is why we want to do so as fast as possible,” he said, apparently recognizing that even the US is not prepared for the war to drag on.
“The final remnants of Hamas are holed up in Gaza City,” he said, justifying Israel’s ongoing operation in the northern city where hundreds of thousands are still sheltering after an even greater number heeded IDF calls to evacuate.
While Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has said he expects the war to wrap up by the end of 2025, IDF officials have warned the government that the Gaza City takeover operation could well require much more time.
“Much of the world no longer remembers October 7, but we remember. Israel remembers October 7,” Netanyahu said. In hopes that the hostages in Gaza would hear him, the IDF placed loudspeakers around the city around Gaza City, that blared out the following messages in Hebrew: “We have not forgotten you, not even for a second. The people of Israel are with you. We will not falter, and we will not rest until we bring all of you home!”