Several delegates walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address on Thursday, protesting Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
The walkout left Netanyahu speaking to a significantly reduced audience, with some delegates remaining in the chamber and applauding the Israeli leader while others chanted in support of Israel.
The protest echoed similar demonstrations during Netanyahu’s UN appearances in 2024 and 2025.
Netanyahu responded by sharply criticising those who left, describing them as “moral cowards” and challenging other delegates who remained in the hall to follow them.
“If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t yet left this hall, please do so now,” he said.
Despite the protests, Netanyahu used his address to defend Israel’s military operations in Iran, Gaza and other parts of the Middle East, insisting that his country had no alternative but to continue fighting.
“We’re going to win. We have no other choice,” he said.
Netanyahu also rejected accusations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, describing the allegation as “the biggest lie of the century.”
He argued that Israel’s military actions amounted to self-defence and said the country was also protecting other nations from threats posed by its adversaries.
Addressing the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, Netanyahu reminded the assembly that about 1,200 people were killed during the assault.
He also defended Israel’s military action against Iran, arguing that striking Iranian nuclear facilities was necessary to prevent a wider threat.
“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,” Netanyahu said.
He further predicted that the Iranian government would eventually fall, saying the Iranian people would one day be free.
Netanyahu also criticised European countries over sanctions imposed on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of supporting Hamas.
He described Erdogan as a “tyrant” and alleged that Turkey hosts leaders of the Palestinian armed group.
The Israeli prime minister also clashed rhetorically with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had previously said he would seek Netanyahu’s arrest if the Israeli leader visited the city, before acknowledging that the mayor of New York does not have such authority.
Netanyahu told the UN audience that Jews in New York no longer felt safe following Mamdani’s election.
“Since you were elected mayor of this city, many Jews no longer feel safe in New York,” he said.
Mamdani rejected the claim as a “baseless lie.”
The walkout reflected continuing international opposition to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and its wider regional operations, as well as disagreements over its policies concerning humanitarian aid and the occupied Palestinian territories.
UN General Assembly walkouts have traditionally been used by diplomats to signal political or diplomatic opposition to the policies of a country whose leader is addressing the chamber.
During Thursday’s protest, some participants also chanted “Am Yisrael Chai,” meaning “The people of Israel live,” in support of Israel.
