Lapid: Broadcasting Netanyahu's speech in Gaza through loudspeakers is absolute madness.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid considered on Friday the intention of Tel Aviv to broadcast Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech in the Gaza Strip via loudspeakers as "absolute madness."

This came according to a post on the American platform "X," in response to what the official Hebrew broadcasting authority reported, that "the southern command of the army will broadcast the Prime Minister's speech at the United Nations via loudspeakers inside the Gaza Strip today."

Although Netanyahu's office claimed in a statement that the speech would only be broadcast via loudspeakers at the Gaza border, an Israeli soldier said that loudspeakers were placed deep inside Gaza, according to the broadcasting authority.

Lapid said: "The Israeli army should not broadcast the governor's speeches via loudspeakers, putting its soldiers at risk in the field."

He added: "This is absolute madness that is unworthy of a democratic state."

Earlier on Friday, the authority stated that "the families of the hostages (Israeli captives in Gaza) expressed their criticism of the decision."

The private Channel 12 also reported: "In recent days, the Prime Minister's office has asked the Israeli army to place loudspeakers at various points inside Gaza, so that the residents (Palestinians) can hear Netanyahu's speech at the United Nations."

It quoted unnamed military sources as saying that "the request from Netanyahu's office to broadcast the speech to the residents of the Gaza Strip could pose an operational risk to the soldiers who would have to leave their fortified positions to install the loudspeakers."

Netanyahu is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly today at 16:00 Israel time (+2 GMT).

With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in 65,549 martyrs and 167,518 injured, most of whom are children and women, and famine that has claimed the lives of 442 Palestinians, including 147 children.