Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mounted a fierce defence of his country's military operations across Gaza, Iran, and the wider Middle East during an address to the United Nations General Assembly.

Taking to the podium after dozens of delegates walked out in protest, Mr Netanyahu rejected allegations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and insisted that military action would continue unabated. "We're going to win. We have no other choice," he told the assembly, speaking while subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over alleged war crimes.

His remarks came hours after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the gathering via video link, having been denied a US entry visa. Mr Abbas told delegates that Palestinians were facing "killing, destruction, starvation and attempts at displacement, as well as a genocidal war" in Gaza, warning that illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank threatened the internationally backed two-state solution and "the very life and existence of the Palestinian people on their homeland".

During his speech, Mr Netanyahu directed sharp criticism at Western nations, singling out critics in the UK and France over accusations of colonialism. "They accuse Israel, tiny Israel, of colonialism - some colonialism," he said. "And who's accusing us? Among them are people in Britain and in France. For God's sake, they invented the term."

The Israeli prime minister also labelled Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a "tyrant" and accused him of supporting the Palestinian armed group Hamas, prompting a swift response from Turkish communications director Burhanettin Duran. Mr Erdogan had told the UN earlier in the week that injustices in Gaza and the West Bank deeply offend "the conscience of humanity".

Mr Netanyahu also turned his attention locally to New York City's left-wing mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who previously considered arresting him before acknowledging he lacked the authority. Mr Netanyahu claimed that "many Jews no longer feel safe in New York" under his mayoralty, leading Mr Mamdani's office to respond that the prime minister had "used his speech to repeat baseless lies meant to sanitize his genocide of Palestinians".

Much of the address was pitched directly at US and domestic audiences. Mr Netanyahu praised US President Donald Trump for his "bold leadership" concerning joint US-Israeli air strikes launched against Tehran in February, telling the hall: "Israel and America acted together not only to protect ourselves, but to save civilisation."

At home, Mr Netanyahu is preparing for a critical general election next month, with his religious-right coalition currently trailing in the polls. It marks the first national vote since the 7 October 2023 attacks, with opponents arguing he is unfit for office following Israeli media reports—which he firmly denies—suggesting he failed to heed warnings of an impending Hamas attack.

Outside the UN headquarters, several people protesting against Mr Netanyahu's visit were detained in New York City. Those held included Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon, Emmy-winning Hacks actress Hannah Einbinder, and Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Cheval.

On the ground, reconstruction in Gaza has still not begun nearly a year after a ceasefire came into force. What remains uncertain is how far this speech will alter shifting public opinion in the United States, where polling shows falling support among Democrats alongside growing fractures among Republicans and the Maga movement.

I'll be following this one closely as the political fallout develops at home and abroad — check back for updates.