'This is your PM speaking': Israel surrounds Gaza with speakers as Netanyahu speaks 'directly' with hostages

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 26 spoke ‘directly’ to the Israeli hostages during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Netanyahu said Israel has surrounded Gaza with massive loudspeakers with the hope that they will listen.

"I want to do something I have never done before. I want to speak from this forum directly to those hostages through loudspeakers. I have surrounded Gaza with massive loudspeakers connected to this microphone in the hope that our dear hostages will hear my message... Our brave heroes, this is Prime Minister Netanyahu speaking to you live from the United Nations. We have not forgotten you, not even for a second. The people of Israel are with you. We will not falter, and we will not rest until we bring all of you home,” Netanyahu said during his speech.

VIDEO | Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) speaks 'directly' to hostages from UNGA as Israel surrounds Gaza with massive loudspeakers. He says, "I want to do something I have never done before. I want to speak from this forum directly to those hostages through… pic.twitter.com/uvGYx7UWBD

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 26, 2025

In addition, Netanyahu sharply denounced Western countries for embracing Palestinian statehood, accusing them of sending the message that "murdering Jews pays off."

Speaking at the UNGA, the Israeli leader pushed back in his harshest terms yet against a flurry of diplomatic moves by leading US allies that deepened Israel’s international isolation over its conduct of a nearly two-year-old war against Hamas militants in Gaza.

"This week, the leaders of France, Britain, Australia, Canada and other countries unconditionally recognized a Palestinian state. They did so after the horrors committed by Hamas on October 7 -- horrors praised on that day by nearly 90% of the Palestinian population."

"You know what message the leaders who recognize the Palestinian state this week sent to the Palestinians?" Netanyahu said. "It's a very clear message: murdering Jews pays off."

With more countries joining the list of those endorsing Palestinian independence, the most right-wing government in Israeli history has made its strongest declaration yet that there will be no Palestinian state as it pushes on with its fight against Hamas following the militants' October 7, 2023, rampage in Israel. Hamas-led fighters killed some 1,200 people according to Israeli tallies.