Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a visibly confrontational reception at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday as dozens of delegates walked out of the chamber when he took the podium, while others jeered and booed during the opening moments of his address.
The walkout occurred at the beginning of Netanyahu's speech at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Video from inside the chamber showed groups of diplomats leaving their seats as Netanyahu approached the rostrum. The session's presiding officer repeatedly called for order.
Netanyahu responded directly to those leaving, saying: “If there are any other moral cowards who haven't yet left the hall, please do so now.” His remarks immediately set a confrontational tone for an address in which he sharply criticized Iran, several European governments and other international critics of Israel.
Netanyahu's appearance at the UN came during a period of intense international debate over Israel's actions in Gaza, the West Bank and its wider military confrontation with Iran.
The walkout was one of the most visible moments of Netanyahu's appearance at this year's General Assembly.
According to reports from the chamber, dozens of envoys from different countries left as the Israeli prime minister began speaking. Some delegates remained in their seats, while members of the Israeli delegation stood and applauded Netanyahu. Supporters in the gallery also voiced their backing and chanted “Am Yisrael Chai,” meaning “The People of Israel Live.”
The Palestinian delegation had reportedly encouraged other diplomatic missions to participate in the protest, according to Agence France-Presse reporting. The episode came after several governments used their own UN speeches earlier in the week to criticize Israeli policies and military operations.
The emptying of sections of the General Assembly chamber provided a striking visual backdrop as Netanyahu continued with his speech.
Following the walkout, Netanyahu used much of his address to defend Israel's military actions and challenge international criticism of the country.
He argued that Israel's actions against Iran were intended not only to protect Israel but also to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Netanyahu said Israel was also defending countries whose representatives had left the chamber.
He further claimed that leaders of some countries had privately expressed support for Israeli military action against Iran, despite their public criticism. Those claims were presented by Netanyahu during his address and were not independently established in the reports reviewed.
Netanyahu also predicted that Iran's current political leadership would eventually lose power, telling Iranians that “the power of the people will overcome the people in power,” according to reports of his speech.
Iran was one of the central themes of Netanyahu's speech.
He defended Israeli and U.S. military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities and described Iran's leadership as a major threat to Israel and other countries. Netanyahu also pointed toward a possible political change in Tehran, although Iran's government remains in control.
Iranian representatives were absent from the chamber during Netanyahu's address. Reports said the Iranian delegation left its seats and displayed a portrait of former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
Netanyahu also addressed Israel's confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon. During the speech, he held up a pager while referring to the 2024 explosions that targeted Hezbollah members in Lebanon. The coordinated attacks killed and injured people and became a major episode in Israel's conflict with the Iran-backed organization.
Netanyahu also criticized Britain and France over their increasingly critical positions toward Israel.
He rejected accusations of colonialism and challenged the historical record of European powers while defending Israel's position on disputed territories. The comments came as several Western governments have adopted more critical positions toward Israel's policies and military campaign.
Netanyahu additionally criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, accusing Turkey of supporting Hamas and criticizing Ankara's regional policies. These were Netanyahu's political claims during the speech and were not independently established by the reports of the event.
The Israeli prime minister's speech therefore became both a diplomatic address and a highly contested political event, with the walkout providing a powerful visual demonstration of opposition from numerous delegations while Netanyahu continued to defend his government's policies.
Despite the disruption, Netanyahu completed his address and used the platform to outline Israel's security concerns, criticize its opponents and thank U.S. President Donald Trump for American support.
The scene underscored the deep divisions surrounding Israel at the United Nations, where competing governments continue to disagree sharply over the wars, security threats and diplomatic approaches shaping the Middle East.
