NEW YORK — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the United Nations General Assembly that Palestinians openly celebrated the October 7 attacks, comparing their reaction to the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in the United States.

“They danced on the rooftops. They cheered,” Netanyahu said, drawing a direct link between the two tragedies as he sought to highlight what he called the broader culture of glorifying terrorism.

In a striking move, Israeli media reported that at Netanyahu’s request, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) set up loudspeakers outside and within Gaza to broadcast his speech directly to residents. The unusual step was aimed at ensuring that his message — including Israel’s stance against Hamas — reached civilians inside the territory.

The speech, delivered amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, comes at a time of heightened global debate over the conflict, its humanitarian toll, and Israel’s strategy to prevent future attacks.