Daijiworld Media Network - New York

New York, Sep 24: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday amid intense international criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza and growing political pressure ahead of Israel's general election in October. Netanyahu arrived in New York for an unusually brief visit and is expected to return to Israel on the same day after delivering his address.

The speech comes at a critical point in Netanyahu's political career and against the backdrop of Israel's long and contentious relationship with the United Nations. Israel has faced allegations of genocide and war crimes over its actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, allegations that the Israeli government rejects.

Netanyahu, who is appearing before the UN General Assembly for the 15th time, is expected to use the international platform to defend Israel's military actions and address criticism of the country. He has also signalled that he intends to confront New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has described Netanyahu as a war criminal and accused him of genocide against Palestinians. Netanyahu has rejected such allegations and accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas.

The UN appearance is also being closely watched in Israel because the country's general election is scheduled for October. Reuters reported that opinion polls indicate Netanyahu's political position is under pressure as the election approaches. Analysts cited by Al Jazeera said the UN speech is likely to receive extensive coverage in Israel, where Netanyahu has frequently presented himself as the country's principal voice on the international stage.

Former Israeli consul general in New York Alon Pinkas told Al Jazeera that Netanyahu's UN appearances have become an important part of his political messaging at home. Nimrod Goren, president of the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, Mitvim, said many Israelis generally view the UN as hostile towards Israel.

Israel's relationship with the UN has deteriorated further since the outbreak of the Gaza war following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The UN General Assembly has adopted numerous resolutions critical of Israel, while Israel has accused the organisation of institutional bias. Israel has also declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata and restricted the operations of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

Netanyahu's visit is taking place amid heightened attention to New York's political environment following Mamdani's remarks. Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, has called for Mamdani's arrest over what he described as incitement against New York's Jewish community. Mamdani has previously said he would seek Netanyahu's arrest over alleged war crimes if he had the authority to do so, but later acknowledged that the New York City mayor does not have such legal powers.

Netanyahu's unusually short visit has also attracted attention. He is not scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump or Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the trip. According to Netanyahu's office, he is instead due to meet several other world leaders, including the presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Panama and Ethiopia, the vice president of Colombia and the prime ministers of Greece, Slovenia and Papua New Guinea.

The Israeli prime minister is expected to focus heavily on Iran in his UN address, including concerns over Iran's nuclear programme and missile capabilities. Israeli officials have indicated that visual material could again be used during the speech, continuing a feature of Netanyahu's previous UN appearances. His remarks are also expected to address international criticism of Israel, the International Criminal Court and the situation in Gaza.

The United States has continued to provide strong diplomatic backing to Israel at the UN, including the use of its Security Council veto on resolutions concerning Gaza. At the same time, the UN's role in the conflict has come under growing scrutiny, with critics pointing to the organisation's limited ability to take political action while highlighting its continuing humanitarian role in providing aid and medical assistance in Gaza and the West Bank.

Chatham House Associate Fellow Zizette Darkazally, who previously worked with the UN, told Al Jazeera that frustration within the General Assembly reflects both the organisation's limited political role in Gaza and the difficulties it faces in protecting its personnel and agencies. She also stressed that the UN's effectiveness ultimately depends on the commitment of its member states.

Netanyahu's address is therefore expected to serve simultaneously as a defence of Israel's position before the international community and a closely watched political event at home, with the Gaza war, Iran, US-Israel relations and the approaching Israeli election all forming part of the wider backdrop.