Dozens of delegates walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his speech on Thursday, September 24, 2026. This occurred amid increasing international criticism, with many world leaders at the assembly condemning Israel's actions, which some have described as genocidal. Netanyahu, who is facing a challenging re-election campaign at home, used his address to denounce his adversaries and even some allies, while some attendees applauded his remarks before he began speaking.
Netanyahu responded to the mass exodus by telling those leaving, "If there are any other moral cowards who haven't left this hall, please do so now." The Palestinian Mission to the UN had reportedly urged member nations to stage a collective walkout to signal disapproval of Netanyahu's government's alleged genocide, war crimes, and illegal occupation. The speaker of the session repeatedly called for order as a mix of cheers, boos, and walkouts erupted when Netanyahu approached the rostrum, leaving a majority of seats empty.
During his speech, Netanyahu lashed out at New York City's Mayor Zohran Mamdani, calling him "antisemitic" and claiming that Jews in the city no longer felt safe since his election. Mamdani had threatened to execute an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Netanyahu, which the ICC issued in 2024 for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Netanyahu denies these claims. Mamdani, in turn, accused Netanyahu of using "baseless lies" to justify a "genocide of Palestinians."
Netanyahu also criticized Britain and France for their historical colonial empires and their recent criticisms of Israel, including sanctions on Israeli exports from the occupied West Bank. He spoke about the war against Iran, which he described as a "murderous dictatorship," stating that attacking Iran "was one of the easiest decisions I've ever had to make" to prevent them from developing nuclear weapons. He also referenced the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, which killed approximately 1,200 people, equating it to "40,000 innocent Americans slaughtered in less than 24 hours."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was denied a visa by the US, addressed the assembly via a pre-recorded message, urging the international community to cease supplying Israel with weapons used against Palestinians. The Gaza Health Ministry reports 73,922 Palestinian deaths in Israel's subsequent offensive. A ceasefire agreed upon in October 2025 has stalled, with Israel maintaining control of most of Gaza and continuing airstrikes. Protesters, including actor Susan Sarandon, gathered near the UN with "stop the genocide" banners, leading to some arrests.
