Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu condemns Iran at the UN General Assembly, as Israel continues exchanging fire with Hezbollah. Discover the implications of his speech and escalating tensions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, during which the seats allocated for the Iranian delegation remained unoccupied. Amid ongoing hostilities with the Iran-supported Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Netanyahu delivered a pointed warning to Tehran, asserting, “If you strike us, we will strike you.”
The Israeli Prime Minister further criticized the Assembly for its perceived bias against Israel, emphasizing that “Israel seeks peace.”
Meanwhile, outside the venue, large crowds of demonstrators gathered in protest. As casualties in Gaza and Lebanon continue to rise, and the situation of the remaining hostages held by Hamas remains uncertain, many critics contend that Netanyahu has not taken sufficient action to achieve a ceasefire.
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Shortly after Netanyahu’s address, the Israeli military announced it had conducted a strike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut, resulting in significant explosions throughout the city. Lebanese officials report that hundreds have died in Israeli airstrikes since the beginning of the week.
The exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel commenced soon after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Hezbollah claims its actions are in solidarity with the Palestinian cause and will persist until a ceasefire is established in Gaza.
The ongoing conflict has led to the displacement of tens of thousands on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border. Earlier this month, Israel identified the repatriation of displaced individuals to northern regions as one of its official objectives in the war.
