Dozens of delegates walked out of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday September 24th as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium to address world leaders, in a dramatic protest against Israel’s military actions in Gaza and across the region.
The walkout unfolded at the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday as Netanyahu began his address to the 81st session of the General Assembly. Delegates streamed from the chamber while others remained for the speech.
The Palestinian Mission to the United Nations had urged other delegations to participate in the protest by leaving the chamber when the Israeli prime minister was announced.
Netanyahu responded sharply to the walkout, describing the departing diplomats as “moral cowards.”
The protest highlighted deep international divisions over Israel’s conduct in Gaza and its broader military operations in the region.
During his address, Netanyahu mounted a strong defence of Israel’s military actions, arguing that the country was acting not only to protect itself but also to confront threats that extended beyond Israel’s borders.
He defended Israel’s military campaign against Iran and rejected allegations that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, describing such accusations as false.
Netanyahu also vowed that Israel would continue its military operations, telling world leaders that his country intended to prevail in its conflicts.
The atmosphere inside the General Assembly hall was tense, with the Israeli leader receiving a mixture of cheers and boos as delegates departed. Supporters of Israel in the gallery also chanted as the president of the General Assembly repeatedly called for order.
The mass walkout came amid mounting international criticism of Israel over the war in Gaza and its military actions elsewhere in the Middle East.
Despite the protest, several delegations remained in the chamber as Netanyahu delivered his address, underscoring the sharp divisions among UN member states over Israel and the continuing conflicts in the region.
