Netanyahu says Israel ‘didn’t commit genocide’ in Gaza in UN address

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday dismissed allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza as “the biggest lie of the century” in a defiant address to the U.N. General Assembly.

“Israel didn’t commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide,” Netanyahu told world leaders, defending Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and accusing critics of distorting its actions.

Scores of delegates walked out of the assembly hall when Netanyahu began to speak, following a call by the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations for a collective protest. Netanyahu attacked the leavers as “moral cowards” and said Israel was defending other countries as well as itself.

Netanyahu also defended Israel’s handling of humanitarian aid and vaccinations in Gaza, saying Israel had tried to move civilians out of areas of fighting while accusing Hamas of using civilians as human shields.

Israel denies the allegations of genocide and war crimes. In a case brought by South Africa, the International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to take provisional measures under the Genocide Convention but has not yet decided whether genocide has occurred.

Earlier Thursday, in a prerecorded video, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of waging a “genocidal war” and called for international action.