Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will use his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday to condemn world leaders who recently recognised a Palestinian state, saying firmly that “there will be no Palestinian state.”

Before leaving for New York, Netanyahu spoke at Ben Gurion Airport and said, “At the UN, I will speak our truth, the truth about Israel, about our soldiers, and about our country. I will denounce those leaders who, instead of condemning the murderers, rapists, and child killers, want to give them a state in the heart of Israel. This will not happen.”

Earlier this week, Netanyahu’s office also released a statement rejecting the recognition of Palestine by several Western countries. It said that Israel is not bound by these decisions and insisted, “There will be no Palestinian state.” Six European countries, including France and Belgium, formally recognised Palestine, showing their frustration with the United States’ handling of the Gaza conflict.

Netanyahu also announced he will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday. He said it will be their fourth meeting and that they will discuss Israel’s victories, the need to return all hostages, defeat Hamas, and expand the peace that has come after Israel’s military successes, including Operation Rising Lion. This comes after Netanyahu’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, which surprised Trump and complicated US efforts to broker a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Israel’s ongoing military action in Gaza has drawn heavy criticism internationally. Many US allies, including Britain, France, Canada, and Australia, recognised Palestine during the UNGA, despite warnings from Trump that this could encourage Hamas. Trump reaffirmed his support for Israel, saying that such recognition “rewards” Hamas for their atrocities.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said the US president has the power to stop the war in Gaza because the US provides the weapons used in the conflict. Trump has been meeting leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan to discuss governance in Gaza after the war. Reports suggest the US wants Arab and Muslim states to help secure Gaza without Hamas’s involvement.