Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant speech on Sunday, rejecting international pressure to halt the ongoing war in Gaza. Speaking at the country's annual Holocaust memorial day, Netanyahu declared that Israel will stand alone if necessary. The speech, given in a setting that typically avoids politics, was a response to world leaders criticizing Israel's military offensive against Hamas militants and calling for a cease-fire.
Netanyahu emphasized Israel's right to defend itself, stating that no amount of pressure or international decisions will deter the country from protecting its citizens. He invoked the phrase 'Never again is now,' highlighting the solemnity of Yom Hashoah, Israel's day of remembrance for the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust.
During his speech, Netanyahu drew parallels between recent protests on American campuses and the atmosphere in German universities in the 1930s, leading up to the Holocaust. The ceremony marked Israel's first Holocaust remembrance day since the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, which claimed the lives of around 1,200 people, making it the deadliest violence against Jews since the Holocaust.
