Netanyahu says Israel-Saudi deal was close on eve of Oct. 7, declares ‘we are winning’ a 7-front war

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a Saudi-Israel deal was close when he was at the United Nations last year, but then Hamas poured across the border on October 7 to murder, rape, mutilate, and burn people alive “in scenes reminiscent of the Nazi Holocaust.”

Netanyahu says Israel has brought home 154 hostages, including 117 alive — most of them as part of a truce deal in November –and promises he won’t rest until all the hostages are brought home.

Netanyahu points out the hostage families in attendance, and asks them to rise.

The premier tells the stories of each of the hostages who are represented by their families in the UN hall, including those whose bodies were dragged into Gaza and survivors of the Nova festival.

Netanyahu points out that “the curse of October 7” has since expanded to six more fronts, including the Lebanese front, where Hezbollah opened fire on and since October 8. He tells of the 250-plus attacks from Houthis in Yemen, and the attacks from Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

“I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran,” he says, “if you strike us, we will strike you.’

“There is no place in Iran where the long arm of Israel cannot reach. And that is true for the entire Middle East,” he warns.

He says Israel is now fighting a seven-front war, and that its soldiers are demonstrating “courage and sacrifice.”

To applause and cheers from the public gallery where the hostages’ families and others who came with Netanyahu are sitting, he exclaims, “We are winning.”