A significant number of delegates staged a walkout during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York last Thursday. The dramatic departure from the assembly hall, reportedly spearheaded by the Palestinian Mission to the UN, highlighted strong international disapproval of Israel’s policies.
As Prime Minister Netanyahu began his speech, representatives from various nations started to exit. Unfazed by the protest, Netanyahu directly addressed those leaving, labeling them “phony human rights protesters” and questioning their moral integrity. “Where were you when the Iranian tyrants butchered and maimed tens of thousands of unarmed Iranian civilians?” he challenged, adding, “If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t yet left this hall, please do so now.”
Nations Reportedly Involved in the Walkout
- Saudi Arabia
- Iran
- Sudan
- Tunisia
- Uzbekistan
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
- Algeria
- Malaysia
- Montenegro
- Kyrgyzstan
- Jordan
- Libya
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
While a definitive list of all countries whose delegations fully walked out has not been officially released, photographs from the convention center showed numerous empty seats belonging to these nations. Hindustan Times also reported that some countries, despite having empty seats, may have had at least one delegate remain, while others departed entirely in protest.
Netanyahu Criticizes New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani
In addition to the walkout, Netanyahu’s speech also featured a direct condemnation of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
Mayor Mamdani had recently released a video shortly before Netanyahu’s address, showing him planting an olive tree, a cultural symbol of Palestine, at Gracie Mansion, his official residence. The video also depicted him sharing dinner with a Palestinian family, actions seen as a gesture of solidarity with Palestinians.
Netanyahu confronted Mamdani from the UN podium: “Mr. Mamdani, you tried to stop me from coming here. You tried to silence me. Well, you can’t silence me, you can’t silence the truth. And here’s the simple truth. Israel didn’t commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide.” He concluded by accusing Mamdani and other critics of spreading “lies” about the Jewish people and the Jewish state, emphasizing that such falsehoods carry “real consequences.”