Dozens of UN Delegates Walk Out as Netanyahu Begins General Assembly Speech

Dozens of delegates walked out of the United Nations General Assembly chamber in New York on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address to the 81st session of the General Assembly.

The departure of representatives from several countries came as Netanyahu approached the podium, with the Israeli prime minister facing strong international criticism over Israel’s military operations in Gaza and its broader regional actions.

Footage from the chamber showed groups of delegates leaving their seats and filing out as Netanyahu began speaking. The walkout was accompanied by jeers and boos from parts of the hall, while supporters in the gallery applauded and chanted in support of Israel.

The Palestinian Mission to the United Nations had urged delegations to participate in a collective walkout when Netanyahu was introduced. The Irish Times reported that the message called on UN missions to demonstrate their opposition to Israel’s policies through the protest.

Netanyahu continued with his speech despite the disruption. He criticised the delegates who had left, referring to them as “moral cowards” and telling those who remained that Israel would continue to defend itself.

He also defended Israel’s military actions and argued that Israel’s operations were aimed at protecting the country from threats in the region. According to reports from the speech, Netanyahu said Israel’s decision to attack Iran had been one of the easiest decisions he had made.

The Israeli prime minister also used the address to respond to criticism from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has accused Netanyahu of war crimes and described Israel’s actions in Gaza in highly critical terms. Netanyahu rejected those accusations and defended Israel’s conduct.

The walkout highlighted the continuing diplomatic divisions surrounding the Gaza conflict. It also came against the backdrop of growing international debate over Palestinian statehood, the conduct of Israel’s military campaign and the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The United Nations General Assembly’s 81st session has brought together representatives of the organisation’s 193 member states for discussions on major international issues. The official UN schedule lists the September 24 meeting as part of the ongoing general debate.

Despite the mass departure, Netanyahu proceeded with his address, making clear that the Israeli government intends to continue presenting its position on the Gaza war and wider regional security issues on the international stage.

The scenes inside the General Assembly chamber underscored the deep divisions among governments over Israel’s actions and the continuing conflict in Gaza.