Netanyahu’s UNGA Speech Cements Israel’s Global Isolation

American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) vehemently condemns Netanyahu’s genocide denialism in the Gaza Strip, whitewashing of Israeli crimes in the West Bank, and continued apologia for Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in his United Nations General Assembly address.

The U.S-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza is a factual conclusion supported by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’tselem, and Holocaust and genocide scholars. Netanyahu claims that calling it genocide is a “spit in the face of truth.” What spits in the face of truth is his denialism, the attempt to gaslight the world while Palestinians have been killed on a staggering scale over the last three years. No speech, no propaganda, and no rewriting of history can erase what the world has witnessed.

AMP also commends the delegations who walked out of Netanyahu’s speech in an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Those who stayed in the room while he gave his address should be ashamed. Walking out was not a radical act but the absolute bare minimum. A man facing an ICC arrest warrant for committing the most well-documented genocide should not be given the dignity of a receptive audience, let alone granted a world stage to deny and justify the atrocities he has committed against Palestinians.

We stand first and foremost with Palestinians who are forced to endure unimaginable suffering while world leaders fail to take meaningful action to end it and instead continue to platform a lying war criminal. We also stand in solidarity with true and principled leaders like Aber Kawas, Darializa Avila Chevalier, or others who were arrested during protests outside the UNGA.

“Netanyahu should not be welcomed, treated as a legitimate head of state, or given a platform to deny the destruction, killing, and displacement that Palestinians are enduring while he faces an ICC arrest warrant alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity. Yet the U.S. continues to arm Israel, shield its government from accountability, and welcome Netanyahu onto American soil. AMP will continue demanding and working towards an end to U.S. military support for Israel and accountability under international law.” – Dr. Osama Abu Irshaid, AMP Executive Director.