On Friday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared at the U.N. that his nation will not ease its efforts against Hezbollah and stated that he would not cease until all hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 are retrieved from the Gaza Strip.

In a passionate and forceful speech to the U.N. General Assembly, Netanyahu emphasized that fully dismantling the militant group in Gaza and its allies, including Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, is essential for achieving that goal.

Netanyahu also issued a pointed warning to what he termed the “tyrants of Tehran.”

“If you attack us, we will retaliate,” he stated.

This address coincides with growing international calls for Netanyahu to evaluate a U.S.-supported ceasefire initiative regarding Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have targeted Hezbollah leaders. Recent statements from Israel suggest they may soon approve a ground operation to eliminate Hezbollah’s tunnel networks and missile installations in Lebanon.

On Monday, the Pentagon announced it is increasing its military presence in the Middle East amid rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

Since October 7 last year, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251, Hezbollah has fired thousands of missiles into northern Israel, citing its support for Hamas. This assault has prompted about 60,000 Israelis living near the Lebanese border to evacuate southward.

Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in a weeklong exchange of airstrikes and rocket fire, the most intense since Hamas’s surprise attack on October 7, which escalated regional tensions.

Over 800 individuals in Lebanon have lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes since Monday.

However, Netanyahu did not address the proposed 21-day ceasefire in his speech, which gained support from the U.S., European Union, and nine other nations.

Instead, he launched an attack against Iran, characterizing its ongoing conflict with Israel as a “struggle between good and evil.” He also confronted critics of the military actions in Gaza, where he claimed the Israeli Defense Forces have either killed or captured “more than half” of Hamas’s fighters in the past year.

“We will not cease our efforts,” Netanyahu proclaimed. “We are victorious.”

As he began his remarks, a number of leaders stood up and exited in protest.

Prior to Netanyahu’s speech, thousands of demonstrators gathered near the U.N. headquarters in New York, resulting in multiple arrests by police as reported.

Netanyahu often uses his international speeches to spotlight Iran, which Israel and its Western allies regard as the primary destabilizing force in the Middle East. Iran not only finances Hezbollah and Hamas but also provides weaponry and financial support to allied militant groups in Yemen and Iraq, such as the Houthis.

Netanyahu has consistently highlighted the return of Israel’s hostages as a top priority.

Nonetheless, some of his detractors remain skeptical of his commitment.

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‘Frustration and anger’

Nimrod Novik, who previously served as a foreign policy adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and is now with the Israel Policy Forum, shared that watching Netanyahu’s speech brought to mind “anger and frustration” from the families of hostages, who have been urging Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire and negotiate with Hamas.

The Israeli leader did not address this possibility.

Novik mentioned he perceived a prime minister focused on “continuing the war in the south, escalating the conflict in the north, and risking broader conflict in the West Bank and potentially in the region.”

He anticipated that senior officials in the White House might be “pondering the implications” of the speech and what actions Netanyahu might take next.