By: Fern Sidman

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered an impassioned, wide-ranging speech Wednesday at Newsmax’s fourth annual celebration in Jerusalem, using the high-profile platform to reject what he called Hamas’ “lies,” praise steadfast American support, and outline Israel’s humanitarian and security policies as the war in Gaza approaches a pivotal moment.

The event, attended by senior Israeli officials, prominent American figures, and international media leaders, came as Israel’s military prepared for what observers believe could be a major new phase of operations in Gaza. Broadcast live across the Newsmax network, the address emphasized both the political symbolism and the strategic messaging Netanyahu sought to convey to a global audience.

Opening his remarks, Netanyahu lauded Newsmax for its coverage of the conflict and for combating what he described as a coordinated campaign of disinformation.

“Thank you, Newsmax, for helping us on the eighth-front war: seven fronts against Iran and its proxies, the eighth front — the battle for truth,” the prime minister said.

Netanyahu told the assembled audience that Newsmax had “let the truth circle the globe against the lies that have circled it before and continue to do so,” adding, “There’s only one way to beat the lies, and that’s with the truth.”

Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy introduced Netanyahu in terms that framed the prime minister’s career as one of unrelenting defense of his people and values.

“It is my profound honor to introduce a man whose life’s work has been the defense of his people, the preservation of freedom, and the unflinching pursuit of truth,” Ruddy began.

Drawing a historical parallel, Ruddy likened Netanyahu’s leadership to Winston Churchill’s stance against appeasement prior to World War II, citing the prime minister’s confrontation with “two of the gravest threats to Israel’s security” — Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the persistent menace from Gaza.

Ruddy concluded: “On Oct. 7, we all recognized that all people who love freedom and cherish the values of a great society… on that day we all became Israelis and we all stood with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the people of Israel.”

Turning to the heart of the controversy surrounding Israel’s military actions, Netanyahu addressed and rejected international accusations that Israel has pursued a “starvation policy” in Gaza or committed genocide.

“The genocidal element is Hamas,” Netanyahu said firmly, as was reported by Newsmax. “The genocidal element is the Iranian axis that openly calls for the annihilation of Israel, the extermination of Jews in America, and for the death of America itself.”

Netanyahu illustrated his point with graphic detail, recalling the “savage massacre of Druze” in Syria by Islamist terrorists. He described atrocities including rape, torture, and the killing of civilians, including one Druze victim whose heart was cut out and eaten while still alive — examples he used to emphasize the brutality of the ideology Israel faces.

Netanyahu’s remarks, as reported by Newsmax, included a detailed defense of Israel’s humanitarian track record during the ongoing conflict.

He cited the delivery of nearly two million tons of food and medical supplies into Gaza since the war began, stressing that “if Israel wanted to starve the Palestinians, nearly two years after the war began, everybody in Gaza would be dead.”

The prime minister accused Hamas of creating the shortages by looting aid, killing aid workers, and using supplies for its fighters instead of civilians. “Hamas caused the hunger problem,” he stated, adding that Israel had responded with what he called a “humanitarian surge,” opening safe routes, expanding distribution points, and working with international partners.

“Hundreds of trucks go in daily,” Netanyahu said. “The hunger problem has basically been solved. What has not been solved is the campaign of lies.”

Netanyahu placed the fight against misinformation alongside Israel’s physical battles. The Newsmax report indicated that he accused certain international outlets, including The New York Times, of publishing misleading or false images to bolster claims of famine.

He said three children portrayed as malnourished victims in one widely cited report were actually suffering from genetic disorders, and two had been treated by Israeli doctors.

According to the information provided in the Newsmax report, the prime minister drew a historical connection between such narratives and antisemitic “blood libels” of the Middle Ages, when Jews were falsely accused of poisoning wells or using Christian blood in rituals — lies that fueled centuries of persecution and, ultimately, the Holocaust.

“Then we had no defense,” he said. “Now we have a country, an army. And we fight back against our tormentors.”

Netanyahu thanked Americans for what he described as broad-based support for Israel’s stance, asserting that “most Americans” reject Hamas’ propaganda.

“When I say barbarians, this is not hyperbole,” he said. “It’s not only the goal of destroying Israel; it’s the method they use to murder and mutilate the heathen, as they call them.”

He linked Hamas’ goals directly to Iran’s regional strategy, describing a unified threat that demands constant vigilance.

The prime minister reiterated Israel’s claims of taking unprecedented steps to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza, even during intense urban fighting, the Newsmax report said.

He accused Hamas of deliberately preventing civilians from evacuating combat zones, sometimes firing on those attempting to flee. “This has never happened before in a war,” Netanyahu said. “And then Israel is blamed for genocide. That’s ridiculous.”

Addressing developments outside the immediate conflict zone, Netanyahu criticized U.S. campus activists who chant “from the river to the sea,” arguing that many do not understand that the slogan calls for Israel’s elimination.

“If you’re not ready to fight for freedom, you will lose it,” he warned. “We are prepared to fight, and I know America is prepared to stand with us.”

The Newsmax Fourth of July celebration — postponed from early July due to Israel’s military actions against Iran — was more than a symbolic gathering. It brought together political, media, and business leaders from both nations, including U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, legal scholar Alan Dershowitz, and Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations.

As the Newsmax report noted, the celebration highlighted the enduring alliance between Israel and the United States, framed by shared democratic values and historical bonds. Netanyahu’s speech served not only to rally domestic support but also to send a clear signal to Washington and international observers of Israel’s resolve — both in its military operations and in the war of narratives.