Netanyahu denounces diplomat walkout at UN General Assembly as cowards
Dozens of diplomats walked out of the UN General Assembly as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the rostrum to defend military operations across the Middle East.
Walkout at the General Assembly
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York as dozens of diplomats staged a walkout. The walkout unfolded the moment Netanyahu walked into the assembly hall to deliver his address. Diplomats representing multiple national delegations left their seats, leaving large portions of the chamber half-empty. Chants supporting Palestine echoed from inside the room during the exit. Netanyahu responded directly from the rostrum to criticize the officials leaving the hall.
Those who left the hall are moral cowards, if there are others let them leave immediately.
Address on military operations
Netanyahu defended Israeli military campaigns launched after October 7 across Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran, presenting the operations as vital to the survival of Israel and the Western world. Citing his brother Yoni, who died on a military mission, Netanyahu stated that Israel had no choice other than victory. He responded to international accusations of colonialism by asserting that critics in Great Britain and France had originally coined the term. Holding a pager aloft in the chamber, Netanyahu referenced the operation that killed and injured dozens of alleged Hezbollah members in Lebanon. He argued that Israel's military measures also protect foreign populations, claiming several world leaders privately appreciated the strikes.
Now, do you want to know the supreme irony of this defence? Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates have just walked out of this hall. In fact, I want you to know that many of their leaders even thank us in private for neutralising Iran's nuclear capabilities. It is hard to imagine a more staggering hypocrisy, yet that is exactly what this is.
- New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani releases an olive tree planting video responding to Netanyahu.
- Susan Sarandon and other demonstrators are detained near UN headquarters.
- Dozens of diplomats walk out of the UN General Assembly hall as Netanyahu enters.
- Netanyahu raises a pager and criticizes departing diplomats as moral cowards.
Exchange with New York's mayor
Prior to the address, local political figures in New York responded to statements made by the Israeli prime minister. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani published a social media response to earlier remarks by Netanyahu, who had accused him of supporting Hamas and inciting unrest against the city's Jewish community. Mamdani's response contained no spoken words, instead presenting a video of the mayor planting an olive tree at Gracie Mansion. The video also showed Mamdani sharing a meal with Palestinian families from Gaza. Mamdani posted the recording online alongside the message, 'May peace be our future.'
Street protests and detentions
Demonstrations against the Israeli prime minister's presence took place in the streets surrounding the United Nations complex. Protesters assembled on streets adjacent to the headquarters during the general debate to oppose Netanyahu's attendance and speech. Police officers moved in to detain multiple demonstrators during the protests near the building. Among those held by police was American actress Susan Sarandon, who was detained by law enforcement while participating in the street demonstrations near the UN.
