At the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York City, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a defiant speech that saw dozens of delegates walk out of the hall. Netanyahu, who faces a difficult re-election campaign in less than five weeks, used the global platform to attack various figures and nations, including Iran's leaders, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and allies like Britain, France, and Turkey. As delegates exited, some reportedly jeering and booing, Netanyahu provocatively stated, "If there are any other moral cowards who haven't left this hall, please do so now."
Netanyahu's address was marked by strong rhetoric. He specifically targeted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, calling him "antisemitic" and claiming that since Mamdani's election, many Jews no longer feel safe in the city. Mamdani had previously threatened to execute an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Netanyahu, though he later conceded he lacked the authority. The ICC had indicated in 2024 that it had reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu was responsible for war crimes in the Gaza campaign, a claim Netanyahu denies. Mamdani, in response to Netanyahu's speech, accused the Prime Minister of using "baseless lies meant to sanitize his genocide of Palestinians" and highlighted the existing ICC arrest warrant allegations.
Beyond domestic criticisms, Netanyahu also lashed out at international partners. He criticized Britain and France, historical allies, for imposing limited sanctions on Israeli exports from the occupied West Bank and for their past colonial empires, arguing they were hypocritical in accusing Israel of colonialism. French President Emmanuel Macron had further angered Israel by claiming in his own UN speech that Hamas was not active in the West Bank. Netanyahu reserved particularly harsh words for Iran, calling it a "murderous dictatorship" and asserting that Israeli and US forces' seven-month war had prevented Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. He also boasted about the 2024 pager attack that wounded over 3,000 people and killed 12, including two children, in an operation against the Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The context of the speech was heavily influenced by the ongoing Israeli election campaign and growing international condemnation over Israel's military actions in Gaza, which Netanyahu defended as necessary for Israel's survival. His visit to the US did not include a scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump, despite Netanyahu's praise for Trump during the speech. The event also saw protests near the UN headquarters, with dozens of demonstrators, including actor Susan Sarandon, being detained for blocking traffic while chanting "Stop arming Israel, let Gaza live" and "Stop arming Israel, let Iran live." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, unable to attend the UN gathering due to a visa denial by the Trump administration, delivered a pre-recorded message rejecting "unlawful punitive measures" and accusations.
