At the United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech in which he vehemently denied allegations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Netanyahu characterized these accusations as the 'lie of the century,' arguing that Israel is instead acting in self-defense against Hamas. During his address, he specifically referenced academic Mahmood Mamdani, suggesting that the actions taken by Israel were necessary to prevent a genocide that he claimed Hamas intended to carry out against Israeli citizens.

Furthermore, Netanyahu used his platform to criticize Qatar, accusing the nation of funding efforts to 'brainwash' young people into hating Israel and the United States. He also predicted the eventual collapse of the current Iranian government.

In response to the Prime Minister’s comments, Mahmood Mamdani issued a rebuttal, accusing Netanyahu of 'sanitizing genocide.' The disagreement centers on the interpretation of the military campaign in Gaza; while Netanyahu frames the operation as a defensive necessity to prevent an existential threat, critics like Mamdani argue that the rhetoric and actions employed by the Israeli government constitute a deliberate attempt to obscure the humanitarian reality of the war. The two sources differ in their focus: The Times of Israel emphasizes Netanyahu’s defense of his military strategy and his attacks on regional adversaries, while Haaretz highlights the direct confrontation between the Prime Minister and his academic critic.