Dozens of delegates walked out of the assembly hall as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his UN General Assembly address on Thursday, September 25, 2026, in a dramatic protest that left large sections of the chamber empty.
Netanyahu's speech came as Israel faced growing criticism from world leaders at this year's assembly over its war in Gaza, with several countries calling for greater international action over the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory.
Mass Walkout As Netanyahu Takes Podium
The incident occurred as Netanyahu approached the podium to deliver his address during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Video from the assembly showed scores of diplomats rising from their seats and leaving the hall as he prepared to speak.
According to reports, delegates from several Arab and Muslim-majority countries, as well as nations including Colombia, South Africa, Turkey and others participated in the walkout. Only a small section of the audience, including the Israeli delegation, remained seated while supporters in the gallery applauded.
“If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t left the hall, please do so now.”
That was the response from Prime Minister Netanyahu to the departing delegates. He condemned the protest and described those who walked out as moral cowards, while defending Israel's military operations against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Netanyahu Defends Gaza War At UN
During his roughly 40-minute speech, Netanyahu mounted a forceful defence of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, rejecting allegations of genocide as the biggest lie of the century and accusing the United Nations of institutional bias against Israel.
The Israeli leader insisted that Israel had no alternative but to continue its campaign, saying “We’re going to win. We have no other choice,” while also criticizing leaders like Turkish President Erdogan and others who had condemned Israel earlier in the week.
Protests Outside UN Headquarters
Outside the UN headquarters in New York, several hundred protesters also gathered to demonstrate against Netanyahu's address, chanting slogans including “Stop arming Israel, let Gaza live.” Police detained some protesters after they blocked traffic.
The walkout follows similar diplomatic protests this week, including when the Cuban and Iranian delegations walked out during US President Donald Trump's address, and when the Israeli delegation left during Turkey's President Erdogan's speech.
M2NICE Editorial Note: This year's UN General Assembly has been marked by unprecedented walkouts, showing deep global divisions over the Gaza war and Middle East conflicts. The mass walkout against Netanyahu highlights growing diplomatic isolation Israel faces, even as the Israeli PM remains defiant ahead of Israel's general election on October 27.
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