Netanyahu leverages Holocaust ceremony to deflect international criticism of Gaza offensive

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defiantly rejected international pressure to halt the war in Gaza during a speech on Sunday, marking the country’s annual Holocaust memorial day. In a fiery address, Netanyahu declared, “If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone.”

The speech, delivered on Yom Hashoah, a day of remembrance for the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust, was unusual for its political tone. Netanyahu’s message was aimed at world leaders who have criticized Israel’s military offensive against Hamas militants and called for a cease-fire.

Despite international opposition, Netanyahu remains committed to an invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than 1 million civilians are huddled. He emphasized Israel’s right to defend itself, stating, “No amount of pressure will stop Israel from defending itself.”

The ongoing conflict has taken a heavy toll, with Hamas militants killing 1,200 people in an attack that sparked the war. Israel’s response has led to a death toll of over 34,500 people in Gaza, with about 80% of the population displaced.

The violence has prompted South Africa to file a genocide case against Israel in the U.N.’s world court, a charge Israel strongly rejects. Netanyahu defended Israel’s actions, stating that the country is working to ensure the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The day of remembrance also saw the release of an Antisemitism Worldwide Report for 2023, which highlighted a sharp increase in antisemitic attacks globally. The report found a doubling of incidents in the United States, with similar rises in France, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Netanyahu condemned the rise in antisemitism and compared recent protests on American campuses to the events in German universities in the 1930s, leading up to the Holocaust. The protests have led to arrests of thousands of students, sparking a debate on where political speech crosses into antisemitism.