UNITED NATIONS — Dozens of delegates walked out of the U.N. General Assembly hall on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address to world leaders, in one of the most visible diplomatic protests of this year’s gathering.
Reuters reported that dozens of representatives left the chamber at the start of the speech. An Israeli count cited in media reports said representatives of 77 countries were either absent or walked out, though that figure included delegations already absent from the session. Among those reported leaving were Pakistan, Iran, Türkiye, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The Palestinian mission had urged member states to leave collectively.
Netanyahu responded defiantly, calling those who left “moral cowards” and inviting anyone else who felt the same to leave before he continued. He dismissed allegations of genocide in Gaza as “the biggest lie of the century” and defended Israel’s military operations in Gaza, Iran and elsewhere in the region.
“Devastating Iran’s nuclear facilities was hard, it was very hard to do, but for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make as prime minister,” he said. “Because if we hadn’t done it, we’d all be dead.”
He also criticized Turkey, Qatar and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and accused Western European leaders of succumbing to “antisemitic mobs.”
The walkout underscored Israel’s growing diplomatic isolation over the Gaza war. At home, Netanyahu is campaigning for re-election ahead of an Oct. 27 vote while facing a long-running corruption trial and an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.