On Monday night, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held his second televised address in as many days.

After a mauling by Israeli journalists on Saturday night, who interrogated him over his responsibility for the 7 October attacks and divisions in the war cabinet, this time Netanyahu took no questions.

It was a rallying call to Western allies.

He said: “The horrors Hamas perpetrated on 7 October remind us that we will not realise the promise of a better future unless we, the civilised world, are willing to fight the barbarians.

“This is a turning point. A turning point for leaders and nations. It is time for all of us to decide whether we’re willing to fight for a future of hope and promise or surrender to tyranny and terror.”

Follow live: Israeli soldier rescued from captivity in Gaza

Netanyahu is a leader under extreme pressure.

A recent poll said 80% of Israelis think he should be held responsible for the 7 October terror attacks.

He is not supported by many in the security establishment and although calls for him to resign are small – for now in the middle of a war at least – he knows that moment is coming.

Justifying Israel’s rejection of a hostage release deal, Netanyahu said that “calls for a ceasefire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas; to surrender to terrorism; to surrender to barbarism – that will not happen.”

Netanyahu quoted the Bible, saying “there is a time for peace and time for war”.

But that simply won’t resonate or wash with much of the secular Western world who don’t look to the scriptures for guidance – and instead are increasingly shocked by the daily images of hundreds of Palestinian babies and innocents being killed in this conflict, or left scrabbling for food and water.

Read more:
Nowhere to run as invasion splits Gaza in two
IDF releases footage of airstrikes
Hostages held in ‘crime against humanity’

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

And Mr Netanyahu said, “Israel’s fight is your fight”.

He said: “Israel will stand against the forces of barbarism until victory. I hope and pray that civilised nations everywhere will back this fight.

“Because Israel’s fight is your fight. Because if Hamas and Iran’s axis of evil win, you will be their next target.

“That’s why Israel’s victory will be your victory.”

Israel’s fight might be just, it might be right, but few outside of Israel regard Hamas, or even Iranian proxies, as a threat to Paris, Berlin, New York or London.

This is Israel’s war and try as he might, he will struggle to convince Europeans it’s theirs too.

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

It was a speech that allowed no scrutiny and no follow-up questions.

It was the speech of a leader who is gradually losing global support because of the extreme way Israel has gone about seeking revenge.

And it was the speech of a leader who has little domestic support because few trust the man known as “Bibi” to deliver them to safety.

Related posts:

Three of Guatemala’s most active volcanoes are erupting at the same time – there’s nowhere to hide At least 20 people killed and hundreds injured after earthquake in Pakistan Record £19.8m Hong Kong smuggling bust includes shark fins and endangered plants Festival vibes as protests cripple Canada’s capital – but this is no party for defiant demonstrators South Korea records highest ever daily COVID deaths and more than 600,000 cases in 24 hours Two dead and 14 wounded in shooting at Oslo nightclub Gay men advised to limit number of partners to slow monkeypox spread Belgium ‘terror attack’ suspect killed officer just hours after making ‘unhinged remarks’ at police station UN peacekeeper dies after convoy attacked in Lebanon Putin’s ‘child snatcher’ and other fugitives wanted by International Criminal Court Putin: What we know about the motivations of the Russian dictator ‘Behaviour below humanity’: Friend of dying K2 porter criticises record-breaking mountaineers