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The Gaza Media Office has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of spreading “eight major lies” in his address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday, describing the speech as an effort to justify war crimes and genocide in Gaza.
In a statement released shortly after Netanyahu’s remarks, the office said his address was “misleading” and riddled with contradictions. It argued that the Israeli leader downplayed the plight of hostages, overstated global support for Israel since October 7 2023, and mischaracterised international recognition of Palestinian statehood as “pressure from extremists”.
The office rejected Netanyahu’s assertion that Israel was waging war on “seven fronts” to fight terrorism, insisting that civilians and infrastructure in Gaza were the real targets. Citing international reports, it claimed that 94 per cent of those killed were civilians, including more than 30,000 women and children, and that over 90 per cent of hospitals, schools, and other key facilities had been destroyed.
According to the statement, Netanyahu contradicted himself by claiming Palestinian groups prevented people from leaving Gaza while also asserting that 700,000 residents had been displaced. It accused Israel of dropping more than 200,000 tonnes of explosives on residential areas, killing more than 64,000 people—among them 20,000 children and 10,500 women—and erasing entire families.
The Gaza authorities also dismissed Netanyahu’s claim that Palestinian factions were stealing aid while Israel supplied food, saying the Israeli military had created “death traps” around aid convoys, causing thousands of civilian casualties and deaths from hunger, including 147 children.
The statement further criticised Netanyahu’s attack on countries recognising Palestine, describing such recognition as a legal right reflecting the international community’s acknowledgement of Palestinian self-determination after decades of occupation and violence. It urged world powers to end the war, compel Israel to withdraw from Gaza, reopen border crossings, allow humanitarian aid, and continue steps towards Palestinian statehood.
Netanyahu used his UN speech to deny allegations of genocide and starvation in Gaza, even as numerous delegates walked out in protest. Israel is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice, and the Gaza conflict—now nearing its third year—has left the enclave devastated and its population enduring severe hunger and disease.
