Netanyahu — 80th UNGA Statement, 26 September 2025 — "Operation Rising Lion" 12-day Iran war, named-dead-leaders list, Israel-Sharaa Syria negotiations, "Make Iran Great Again"

Mr. President, The families of our dear hostages languishing in the dungeons of Gaza, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Last year, I stood at this podium, and I showed this map. It shows the curse of Iran's terror axis. This axis threatened the peace of the entire world. It threatened the stability of our region and the very existence of my country Israel.

Iran was rapidly developing a massive nuclear weapons program and a massive ballistic missile program. These were meant not only to destroy Israel, they were meant also to threaten the United States and blackmail nations everywhere.

From Gaza, Yahya Sinwar dispatched waves of Hamas terrorists. They stormed into Israel on October 7th and committed acts of unspeakable savagery. From Lebanon, Hassan Nasrallah had launched thousands of missiles and rockets at our cities, terrorizing our citizens. In Syria, the murderous dictator Assad hosted Iran's forces, tightening a noose of death around our throats. In Yemen, the Houthis launched ballistic missiles at Israel, while choking global trade at the mouth of the Red Sea.

So what's happened over the past year? We've hammered the Houthis, including yesterday. We crushed the bulk of Hamas's terror machine. We crippled Hezbollah, taking out most of its leaders and much of its weapons arsenal. Remember those beepers, the pagers? We paged Hezbollah. And believe me, they got the message — and thousands of terrorists dropped to the ground. We destroyed Assad's armaments in Syria. We deterred Iran's Shiite militias in Iraq.

And most importantly, and above everything else that I could say to you or that we did in this past year, in this past decade: We devastated Iran's atomic weapons and ballistic missile programs.

**Here's where things stand today. Half the Houthi leadership in Yemen — gone. Yahya Sinwar in Gaza — gone. Hasan Nasrallah in Lebanon — gone. The Assad regime in Syria — gone.**

**Israel's 12-day war with Iran, which I renamed Operation Rising Lion — that's from the Bible — this 12-day war will go down in the annals of military history.** Our daring pilots neutralized Iran's missile defenses and took control of the skies over Tehran. And you saw this, Israeli fighter pilots and American B2 pilots bombed Iran's nuclear enrichment sites. I want to thank President Trump for his bold and decisive action.

But we're not done yet. The final remnants of Hamas are holed up in Gaza City. They vow to repeat the atrocities of October 7th again and again and again, no matter how diminished their forces. That is why Israel must finish the job, and that is why we want to do so as fast as possible.

So to the remaining Hamas leaders, and to the jailors of our hostages, I now say: Lay down your arms! Let my people go! Free the hostages! All of them. The whole 48. Free the hostages now! If you do, you will live. If you don't, Israel will hunt you down.

If Hamas agrees to our demands, the war could end right now. Gaza would be demilitarized, Israel would retain overriding security control, and a peaceful civilian authority would be established by Gazans and others committed to peace with Israel.

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 7th — horrors praised on that day by nearly 90% of the Palestinian population.

You know what message the leaders who recognized a Palestinian state this week sent to the Palestinians? It's a very clear message. Murdering Jews pays off.

Giving the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem after October 7th is like giving Al-Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11th.

This is sheer madness. It's insane, and we won't do it. So here's another message for these Western leaders: **Israel will not allow you to shove a terror state down our throats.**

Last year, there was a vote in the Knesset, our parliament, whether or not to oppose the imposition of a Palestinian state. Out of the 120 members of our parliament, 99 voted against. And only 9 supported. That's over 90%. It's not a fringe group, it's not the prime minister who is extreme or is held hostage by extreme parties to his right. So my opposition to a Palestinian state is not simply my policy or my government's policy. **It is the policy of the state and people of the State of Israel.**

Israel's victories over the Iranian terror axis have opened up possibilities for peace that were unthinkable two years ago.

Take Syria. For decades, the very idea of peace between Israel and Syria seemed unimaginable. No more. **Today we have begun serious negotiations with the new Syrian government.** I believe an agreement can be reached that respects Syria's sovereignty and protects both Israel's security and the security of the minorities in the region, including the Druze minorities.

Peace between Israel and Lebanon is possible as well. I call on the Lebanese government to also begin direct negotiations with Israel. I commend it for its declared aim to disarm Hezbollah. But we need more than words.

Victory over Hezbollah has made peace possible with our two Arab neighbors in the North. Victory over Hamas will make peace possible with nations throughout the Arab and Muslim world. Our victory would lead to a dramatic expansion of the historic Abraham Accords, which President Trump brokered between Arab leaders and myself five years ago.

With God's help, that strength and that resolve will lead us to a speedy victory and to a brilliant future of prosperity and peace.