Delegates Walk Out During Netanyahu's Speech at UN General Assembly

During his address to the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu provoked a dramatic response: more than 100 diplomats from over 50 countries walked out in protest. The walkout underscores deep global divisions over Israel’s Gaza offensive and rising diplomatic isolation.

Netanyahu’s speech was marked by defiance. He reiterated that Israel must “finish the job” in Gaza, rejected international recognition of Palestinian statehood, and accused Western nations of misguided policies. Even before he began, many delegations exited the hall, leaving vast sections of the chamber empty. 

The timing amplified the tension: just a day earlier, several Western countries—including the UK, France, Canada, and Australia—had formally recognized a Palestinian state. Netanyahu called that move “insane,” likening it to giving al-Qaeda a state near New York. He also directly addressed hostages held in Gaza and threatened further military action if Hamas did not comply. 

Beyond rhetoric, the Israeli government took dramatic steps to broadcast the speech into Gaza. Loudspeakers mounted on trucks near the border aired his remarks, and officials claimed mobile networks in Gaza were used to relay the address. The move drew sharp criticism, viewed by many as a provocative extension of wartime messaging. 

The walkouts and sparse attendance reflect Netanyahu’s increasingly contested standing on the global stage. Some nations remained in the chamber—though in many cases only at lower diplomatic levels—while the loud protests and empty rows underscored Israel’s diplomatic isolation. 

For Netanyahu, the response is both deterrence and messaging: he leaned into confrontation with critics and sought to frame Israel as besieged by international hypocrisy. For his detractors, the walkouts were a symbolic rejection of his policies in Gaza. Either way, the moment signals a new chapter in how the international community engages with Israel at the UN.

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