Netanyahu: Nothing will prevent Israel from defending itself, if necessary we will stand alone

(Patria) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday condemned the "volcano of antisemitism" and international criticism of Israel's war in Gaza, insisting that no pressure will prevent him from defending himself.

"If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone," Netanyahu said.

Speaking at a Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at the Yad Vashem memorial in Jerusalem, he lamented that when the Nazis murdered six million Jews during World War II, his people "were completely helpless against those who sought our destruction. No nation came to our aid," he said, AFP reported.

"Today, we are once again facing enemies who seek our destruction," Netanyahu told the large crowd gathered at the ceremony.

"I say to world leaders, no pressure, no decision by any international forum will prevent Israel from defending itself."

He complained about the wave of criticism worldwide against Israel for its war in Gaza, which broke out after Hamas's attack on October 7, and condemned "this terrible volcano of antisemitism" that he said is spreading across the world.

Netanyahu also compared protests at universities across the United States and the world to the discrimination against Jews at German universities during World War II.

"What a distortion of justice and history," he said. The criticism, he said, was not "because of the actions we are taking, but because we exist... because we are Jews."

"You will not tie our hands... Israel will continue to fight human evil... until victory," he said.

"We will defeat our genocidal enemies. Never again is now!"