India, Sept. 25 -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a strong defense of Israel's regional actions at the United Nations on Thursday, seeking to push back against mounting global isolation ahead of elections he risks losing, even as dozens of delegates streamed out.

In his speech at the ongoing session of the United Nations General Assembly, Netanyahu criticised New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani for labeling him a war criminal, accused Western European leaders of caving to "antisemitic mobs," and charged both Qatar and Turkey with spreading lies.

He particularly branded Iran as a "murderous dictatorship", and claimed the nearly seven-month conflict - in which Israeli and US forces struck Iran - had prevented Tehran from developing...