Israel has launched a high-profile public diplomacy campaign in New York ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), spotlighting the horrors of Hamas-led attacks and the plight of 48 hostages held in Gaza.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has deployed massive billboards and mobile trucks across Times Square and near the UN headquarters with the slogan “Remember October 7”, referencing the 2023 attack in which Hamas militants killed around 1,200 Israelis and more than 200 others. Each display features a QR code linking to a website documenting the atrocities.
In a post on X, the PMO said, “The goal of the campaign is to remind world leaders and the public about the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas and the unbelievable brutality of the terrorist organisation that continues to hold 48 hostages in captivity in Gaza.”
The campaign is intended to strengthen Israel’s public diplomacy front and draw global attention ahead of Netanyahu’s address. The Israeli PM will speak a day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivered a fiery video statement to UNGA80, condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza as war crimes and crimes against humanity, while rejecting any future role for Hamas in governance.
Abbas emphasized that armed groups must disarm and integrate into the Palestinian National Authority to build a unified legal and security framework, stating, “Hamas will not have a role to play in governance… our wounds are deep and our calamity is great.”
The contrasting messages at the UNGA underscore the ongoing international debate over accountability, governance, and humanitarian concerns in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
