In a speech focused entirely on Israeli security and Hamas villainy, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made no mention of the humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded in Gaza over the past two years. There was no acknowledgment of the widespread starvation, the destroyed infrastructure, or the millions of displaced people.
While vowing to “finish the job” in Gaza City, he spoke only of the “final remnants of Hamas.” The civilians who remain trapped in the city, facing dire shortages of food, water, and medicine, were absent from his narrative. The strike on a displaced persons’ camp on the day of his speech went unmentioned.
This omission is central to the disconnect between his government and the international community. While Netanyahu sees a military task, the rest of the world sees one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century. His refusal to even acknowledge this suffering is seen by many as a shocking lack of empathy and a denial of responsibility.
By framing the conflict solely in terms of military necessity, he sidesteps the very issues that have led to accusations of war crimes and genocide. The empty UN hall was a testament to a world that can no longer ignore the human cost he refuses to name.
