Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his military's course of action in the Gaza Strip, which has been internationally criticized, while condemning Israel's critics in a much-awaited speech at the United Nations on Friday.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has asked the Global Sumud Flotilla -- which is trying to ferry humanitarian aid through an Israeli naval blockade to the Gaza Strip -- to deliver its aid to Cyprus, after the group's boats came under drone attack in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Israeli prime minister was met by a mass walkout of delegates as he began his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday.

Reservists and hostage families condemn Netanyahu's UN speech plan, calling the mission life-threatening and criticizing its real objective. Soldiers serving in the Gaza Strip and their parents have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of lying about a controversial plan to broadcast his UN General Assembly speech to Gaza residents.

A Palestinian state would be “national suicide” for Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, but many of the diplomats and leaders at the assembly boycotted his remarks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the United Nations on Friday, vowed to continue Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and told the hostages still held by the Palestinian militants they were not forgotten.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel struck houses and tents in central and southern Gaza Thursday, crushing families inside and killing at least 17 people, including 10 children and three women, local health officials said, as international pressure for a ceasefire continued to grow.

Delegations walked out, booed and cheered as the Israeli leader started his UN speech