Dozens of delegates walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address, highlighting the diplomatic backlash surrounding Israel’s war in Gaza.
The walkout came as Netanyahu took the podium at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York to defend Israel’s military actions and its broader conduct in the region.
Images from the session showed empty seats across the hall as delegates left. The Palestinian delegation was among those that walked out.
Netanyahu responded by challenging those who had left, calling them “moral cowards” and telling other delegates who opposed his position to leave as well.
The Israeli prime minister used the roughly 40-minute speech to defend his government’s actions and argue that Israel was acting to protect itself.
“We will continue to defend our state. We will continue to win because we have no other choice,” Netanyahu said.
He also praised US President Donald Trump, saying, “in this battle against the barbarians, we’ve had no greater partner than President Trump.”
Netanyahu’s appearance came amid growing international criticism of Israel over its Gaza war, which began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel nearly three years ago.
Reuters reported that several hundred protesters demonstrated outsid ethe UN Headquarters against Israel’s actions, with demonstrators chanting, “Stop arming Israel, let Gaza live” and “Stop arming Israel, let Iran live.” Police detained some protesters.
Netanyahu also used visual props during his address, including a pager and a Starlink satellite internet receiver, while discussing Israel’s confrontation with Iran and Iran-backed groups.
His appearance at the UN came less than five weeks before Israel’s October 27 general election.
Reuters also reported that Netanyahu’s government had also paid for pro-Israel and anti-Iran billboards and trucks carrying supportive messages in Manhattan ahead of the speech.
