Trump Defends Israel at UN, Vows Iran Will Not Obtain Nuclear Weapons Amidst Global Criticism

Former President Donald Trump offered a strong defense of Israel at the United Nations General Assembly, pushing back against a chorus of world leaders who accused Jerusalem of war crimes and displacement of Palestinians. Trump also reiterated his commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The opening day of the U.N. General Assembly saw the Gaza conflict take center stage, with many leaders criticizing Israel's response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. French President Emmanuel Macron sparked controversy with remarks that were translated as "Hamas was never active in the West Bank." This statement was challenged by Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon, who cited recent incidents and French citizen's murder in the West Bank. A French Foreign Ministry spokesperson later clarified that Macron meant Hamas does not govern the West Bank and his remarks should not be misinterpreted.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also criticized Macron's remarks, with Israeli Minister of Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli noting that Hamas has carried out numerous lethal terrorist attacks originating from the West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria, since 1990.

Macron also accused Israel of violating Palestinian rights in the West Bank and damaging infrastructure in southern Lebanon. He questioned the international community's commitment to Palestinian statehood if it failed to act on the situation in Gaza.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, in his final address, described the scale of killing and destruction in Gaza as unprecedented in his tenure, while also lamenting the world's apparent inattention to the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The comparison drew scrutiny, given the higher estimated death toll in Sudan's civil war.

Jordan's King Abdullah II accused Israel of "war crimes" and "forced displacement" in the West Bank, claiming it was part of a policy to drive Palestinians from their land. He also alleged Israeli territorial ambitions in Syria. Abdullah praised Trump for "pushing hard for peace" but criticized Israel for allegedly moving goalposts and destroying civilian infrastructure.

In contrast, Trump's address served as a counterpoint to the criticism leveled against Israel. He vowed that "Iran will never have a nuclear weapon" and highlighted the Khamenei regime's celebration of the Oct. 7 attacks. Trump warned against empowering such a regime with nuclear capabilities.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke of past leaders who sought peace and accused Netanyahu's government of perpetrating a "genocide of women and children in Gaza."

Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon remarked that the U.N. is "obsessed with Israel" and that leaders find it easier to blame Israel than to take practical actions to address global issues. He criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for comparing the situation in Gaza to Holocaust-era concentration camps, calling such statements antisemitic and a form of incitement.

Danon also addressed King Abdullah's remarks, stating that while Jordan is a partner, many leaders at the U.N. choose to criticize Israel rather than focus on cooperation.