Nearly 70 national delegations staged a walkout during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 25, 2026. According to reporting from AFP and Anadolu Agency, delegates emptied rows of seats and shouted jeers while Netanyahu approached the podium, prompting the session chair to call for order and Netanyahu to label departing diplomats “moral cowards.”
Mass Walkout Erupts at UN General Assembly Over Gaza Policies
The mass boycott unfolded as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the floor during a high-stakes period ahead of Israel’s scheduled October 27 elections. Anadolu Agency reported that representatives from approximately 70 countries left the General Assembly hall or remained absent entirely to protest Israel’s military operations in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria. Some delegations left junior diplomats behind, while others cleared their rows completely.
The protest created an audible uproar inside the hall. AFP noted that Netanyahu’s own delegation stood and applauded to counter the jeers, while the session chair demanded order. Addressing the departing diplomats directly, Netanyahu stated from the podium, according to AFP, “If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t left this room, please go.”
Indonesia and Malaysia Lead Regional Condemnation
Perwakilan Tetap Republik Indonesia (PTRI) in New York released video footage confirmed by Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs showing Indonesian delegates standing up in unison and abandoning their seats. Kompas.com reported that Malaysia joined Indonesia, Kuwait, Iran, Pakistan, and Cuba in executing the walkout after a memo circulated by Palestinian representatives urged member states to join the protest.
Netanyahu Targets New York Mayor and European Allies
From the UN podium, Netanyahu directed sharp criticisms outward at both domestic and international critics. AFP reported that the Israeli prime minister targeted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, labeling him an “antisemit” and claiming Jewish residents felt unsafe since Mamdani assumed office. Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor of New York, previously criticized Netanyahu and stated he would enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant if he held the authority, though Mamdani later acknowledged he lacks that jurisdictional power.
Netanyahu also rebuked European allies United Kingdom and France over recent policy shifts. Both nations have enacted limited sanctions targeting Israeli exports from the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu invoked the colonial histories of the UK and France while rejecting accusations of Israeli colonialism, asking the assembly how nations that created the term could apply it to Israel, per AFP coverage.
ICC Warrants and Divided Diplomatic Presence
The diplomatic friction at the UN coincides with severe international legal pressure on Israel’s leadership. Anadolu Agency reported that an independent UN Commission of Inquiry concluded in September 2025 that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, a finding rejected by the Israeli government. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on November 21, 2024, for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Despite the mass boycott, several nations maintained a full or partial presence in the hall. Suara.com and Anadolu Agency documented that delegates from the United States, Germany, Argentina, Hungary, Serbia, Ukraina, Czech Republic, and Greece remained seated throughout the address. European nations including the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Belgium, and Norway kept junior envoys or diplomatic representatives in the room despite strained bilateral relations. Meanwhile, China maintained a single diplomat in attendance, and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain—signatories of the Abraham Accords—chose not to vacate their seats.
Did You Know?
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly saw coordinated walkouts organized partly through diplomatic memos circulated among member state missions, mirroring historical protests against controversial state leaders at the United Nations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries participated in the walkout during Netanyahu’s UN speech?
Delegates from nearly 70 countries participated in the walkout or remained absent from the General Assembly hall during the address.
Which Southeast Asian nations joined the protest?
Indonesia and Malaysia were among the nations that stood up and left their seats as Netanyahu approached the podium.
Why did diplomats boycott the speech?
Delegates walked out to protest Israel’s military policies and operations in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria.
Which countries remained in the room?
Delegates from the United States, Germany, Argentina, and several European and Abraham Accords nations kept representatives in the hall during the speech.
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