Extract from ABC News
By Riley Stuart in Jerusalem
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a point in New York on Friday. (Reuters: Eduardo Munoz)
In short:
Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu has used a speech to the UN General Assembly to put the Middle East on notice, as his country fights with multiple militant groups.
His speech came a day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the assembly, calling for the war in Gaza to end and saying "this madness cannot continue".
What's next?
Talks relating to Gaza have been at a deadlock for months, while Mr Netanyahu recently snubbed a proposal for a temporary halt to hostilities with Hezbollah, drawn up by the United States and France.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has used an address to the United Nations General Assembly to warn there is "no place" Israel's weapons cannot reach in the Middle East.
As calls for ceasefires in his country's wars against Hamas and Hezbollah continue, Mr Netanyahu told Friday's sitting in New York his country "would not rest until our citizens can return safely to their homes".
The Israeli leader also took aim at Iran, which backs the militant groups his country is fighting with.
"If you strike us, we will strike you," he warned.
"There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach. And that is true for the entire Middle East."
Iran's delegation was not in the room for Mr Netanyahu's address.
Dozens of diplomats left the room when the Israeli leader started speaking, including those from Saudi Arabia, whom Mr Netanyahu lavished much praise on during his address.
Before the war in Gaza began, Israel and Saudi Arabia had been edging closer to normalising relations, in what would have been a significant boost for Israel's PM.
My Netanyahu's speech came a day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the General Assembly that the war in Gaza must stop immediately.
"This madness cannot continue. The entire world is responsible for what is happening to our people," he said in his speech.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 79th United Nations General Assembly this week. (Reuters: Brendan McDermid)
He also said that when the war eventually ends and a permanent ceasefire is declared, the Palestinian Authority (PA), which he leads, should take control of the Gaza Strip.
Currently, the PA oversees parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, while Hamas has political control in Gaza.
Mr Netanyahu said a "civilian administration committed to peaceful coexistence" should be installed in Gaza.
Of people who believe Hamas should remain in power in Gaza whenever the war ends, Mr Netanyahu told the General Assembly on Friday: "Imagine allowing the defeated Nazis in 1945 to rebuild Germany."
"It's inconceivable, it's ridiculous. It didn't happen then, and it's not going to happen now."
During his address, Mr Abbas said Israel must withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip.
"We refuse the establishment of buffer zones or taking any part from Gaza," he said. "We will not allow a single centimetre of Gaza to be taken."
Mr Netanyahu's address to the General Assembly came against a backdrop of tense negotiations for a ceasefire, which would see hostilities between the Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah paused for several weeks, and the war in Gaza end permanently.
Talks relating to Gaza have been at a deadlock for months, while Mr Netanyahu snubbed a proposal for a temporary halt to hostilities with Hezbollah, drawn up by the United States and France.
James Elder from UNICEF calls for a political solution as he describes the tragic situation in Gaza.
The conflicts have raged since October 7 last year, when Hamas militants stormed Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages, according to Israel.
Subsequently, Israel's military has destroyed large parts of the Gaza Strip, killing more than 41,000 according to Palestinian health authorities.
This week, Israel has dramatically increased its air strikes in Lebanon too, where the health ministry says more than 600 people have been killed and thousands injured since Monday.
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