NEW YORK, New York - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressed Saudi normalization, and an expansion of the Abraham Accords in a fiery speech at the United Nations 79th General Assembly on Friday.

Despite many nations pressing for a 21-day temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, the Israeli leader insisted the war against Hezbollah would continue. As if to emphasize his point, heavy bombing began taking place in Beirut as he spoke, with Israeli officials saying they had targeted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

In Lebanon, government officials are intensifying efforts to establish whether Nasrallah is still alive. The Israeli military and intelligence agencies are also seeking confirmation.

The UN General Assembly hall was in uproar as Mr Netanyahu strode to the podium. Many delegations walked out amidst jeers, including that of Saudi Arabia. Families of hostages and embassy staff were in the public gallery, where cheers came from as the Israeli leader pressed his points. The hall otherwise was silent.

Mr Netanyahu said he had originally intended not to come to the UN General Assembly this year but after hearing the "lies and slander" levelled against his country by other leaders at the podium, he decided that he should come and "set the record straight."

"I decided to come here to speak for my people, to speak for my country and speak for the truth," he said, pledging that Israel yearns for peace.

"We face savage enemies who seek our annihilation, and we must defend ourselves against these savage murderers, who seek not only to destroy us but also destroy our common civilization and return all of us to a dark age of tyranny and terror."

He repeated what he said in his previous address to the General Assembly in 2023, that Israel faces the same timeless choice that Moses put before its people thousands of years ago, "that our actions will determine whether we bequeath future generations a blessing or a curse."

"And that is the choice we face today," he said, citing "the curse of Iran's unremitting aggression or the blessing of a historic reconciliation between Arab and Jew."

"But, then came the curse of 7 October" he said, when 'thousands of Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists burst into Israel, committing "unimaginable atrocities," including brutally murdering 1,200 people, raping women, beheading men, and burning babies alive, and families alive - and kidnapping 251 people from different countries.'

"Scenes reminiscent of the Nazi holocaust," the Israeli leader said.