Netanyahu government launches UN criticism countercampaign ahead of UN General Assembly speech

Israel's government has launched a public countercampaign against criticism of its conduct in Gaza ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu's planned speech to the United Nations General Assembly. The campaign includes an AI-generated video and a website that accuse the UN and its agencies of systematic bias against Israel. The move comes as several world leaders have already used the assembly to criticise Israel's war in Gaza.

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According to the material released by the Israeli government, the video depicts critics as parrots repeating the phrase "blame Israel" in the General Assembly chamber. The government also said the website was created to expose what it called "lies" and "systematic bias" by UN agencies during the Gaza war. In the same material, Israel rejected claims of genocide in Gaza and denied that there is widespread famine in the territory.

The campaign also refers to the controversy surrounding UNRWA and allegations about links between some of its staff and Hamas. That issue has been central to Israel's criticism of UN agencies during the war and has helped deepen tensions between Israel and parts of the UN system. Netanyahu said he would address the matter in his speech to the General Assembly on Thursday, describing it as a chance to "tell the truth" about Israel's forces.

The timing matters because the General Assembly has become a major stage for competing narratives over the Gaza war. Leaders including the presidents of Brazil and France have already criticised Israel in speeches at the assembly this week, adding to diplomatic pressure on Netanyahu's government. Israel's response suggests it is trying to shape the debate before the prime minister takes the podium in New York.

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The broader context is the war in Gaza, which the supplied material says has lasted from 2023 to 2025 and has left more than 70,000 people dead. That conflict has produced intense international scrutiny of Israel's military campaign, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the role of UN agencies operating there. The dispute has also widened into a political and legal battle over accusations of war crimes and genocide.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to the United States in the coming hours, but the immediate impact of the campaign will depend on how his speech is received and whether other leaders respond publicly. It remains unclear whether the website and video will alter the diplomatic tone around the assembly or simply deepen the confrontation. What to watch next is whether Israel expands the campaign after the speech and whether UN officials or member states answer the allegations directly.

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