POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: Did Netanyahu Call Genocide Accusations in Gaza ‘the Biggest Lie of the Century’ at the UN?
The Claim A viral social media post claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a recent address at the United Nations, labeled accusations of genocide in Gaza as the biggest lie...
The Claim
A viral social media post claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a recent address at the United Nations, labeled accusations of genocide in Gaza as the biggest lie of the century. The claim was widely shared across platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp, often accompanied by a video clip or image suggesting that Netanyahu made the statement. The post appeared to be sourced from an article titled “Israel’s Netanyahu, at UN, calls accusations of genocide in Gaza ‘the biggest lie of the century'” published by AP News.
The specific quote attributed to Netanyahu—”the biggest lie of the century”—was presented as evidence of his alleged denial of genocide charges against Israel. The claim gained traction among users who were either critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza or seeking to challenge the credibility of international human rights organizations. The post also included a link to an article on Google News, though the original source was not directly accessible without clicking through multiple layers of links.
The Details & Investigation
Upon reviewing the original source material provided by AP News, it became clear that the claim was based on a misrepresentation or selective quotation. According to the official AP Fact Check report, which is the primary reference for this investigation, Netanyahu did not make the exact statement attributed to him in the viral post. Instead, he delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2023, where he addressed accusations of war crimes and genocide against Israel in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
In his speech, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel is conducting its military operations in Gaza with strict adherence to international law, and he rejected allegations of genocide as being politically motivated and unfounded. However, he did not use the phrase “the biggest lie of the century” in any public statement. The viral claim appears to have been constructed by taking a portion of his speech out of context, likely to provoke outrage or support for a particular narrative.
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Further analysis of the timeline reveals that the original AP article was a fact-check piece, not a direct reporting of Netanyahu’s remarks. The article aimed to clarify that while Netanyahu denied genocide accusations, the language used in the viral post was exaggerated and not reflective of his actual statements. Additionally, there is no record of Netanyahu using the phrase “the biggest lie of the century” in any verified transcript, video, or audio recording of his UN address. This suggests that the claim may have originated from a fabricated quote or a manipulated video clip, which is a common tactic in disinformation campaigns.
Moreover, the absence of corroborating evidence from other reputable news outlets further supports the conclusion that the claim is misleading. No major international media outlet, including BBC, Reuters, or Al Jazeera, reported Netanyahu making the specific statement attributed to him in the viral post. This lack of independent verification raises serious concerns about the authenticity of the claim and points toward a potential disinformation campaign designed to distort public perception of the situation in Gaza.
The Verdict
The claim that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called accusations of genocide in Gaza “the biggest lie of the century” at the United Nations is MISLEADING. While Netanyahu did reject allegations of genocide during his UN speech, the specific wording attributed to him in the viral post is not supported by verified transcripts, recordings, or credible news reports. The claim appears to be a distortion of his actual remarks, possibly created through selective quoting, video manipulation, or outright fabrication.
This type of false attribution is characteristic of disinformation efforts aimed at amplifying political narratives and undermining trust in international institutions. The absence of corroboration from reputable sources and the presence of a misleading headline in the original AP article suggest that the claim was either intentionally crafted or inadvertently spread due to poor fact-checking. As such, the claim falls under the category of deliberate deception rather than unintentional error, making it a case of disinformation.
Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).
