Dozens of delegates walked out of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address, during which he defended Israel’s military action against Iran.
The walkout followed a call by the Palestinian Mission to the UN for representatives to leave the chamber during Netanyahu’s speech. Large sections of the hall were left empty as he approached the podium.
Netanyahu described Israel’s decision to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities as one of the easiest decisions he had made as prime minister. He argued that the military action was necessary to prevent what he said would have been a serious threat to Israel and other countries.
Reacting to the departing delegates, Netanyahu called them “moral cowards” and challenged others who remained to leave as well. He also claimed that some leaders whose representatives walked out had privately thanked Israel for attacking Iran’s nuclear programme, a claim not independently verified in the reports reviewed.
Netanyahu also rejected allegations of genocide in Gaza, describing them as false, while accusing Israel’s critics of spreading what he called lies about the country and its military.
The speech came amid growing international criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and its wider military operations in the region. The walkout highlighted the sharp diplomatic divisions surrounding Netanyahu’s government and Israel’s actions.
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