Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a mass walkout by dozens of international delegates during his address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in New York City. The protests occurred as Netanyahu took the stage, with envoys streaming out of the chamber amid audible chants of protest. The Israeli leader responded by telling those remaining, Before I begin, just a quick announcement, if there are any other moral cowards who haven’t yet left this hall, please do so now,
according to Fox News.
Coordinated Protests and Diplomatic Tensions
The walkout was a coordinated effort organized by the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations. The mission sent messages to many of the 193 member nations, urging them to bring as many staff as possible to the hall and collectively walk out of the assembly
once Netanyahu was announced, according to ITV News. The mission stated this action was intended to signal that no one was willing to be complicit in what it termed illegal occupation, war crimes, and genocide.
During the proceedings, General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman repeatedly called for order as members of the Israeli delegation chanted Am Yisrael Chai
(the people of Israel live). Netanyahu, delivering his 15th address to the General Assembly, dismissed allegations of genocide in Gaza, describing them as the biggest lie of the century
.
Defense of Military Actions and Regional Conflict
Netanyahu used the speech to defend Israel’s military conduct, claiming that Israel is defending many of the countries whose delegates exited the hall. He alleged that several leaders have privately thanked Israel for taking out Iran’s nukes
. He characterized the situation as mind blowing hypocrisy
and argued that Israel and the United States acted together to save civilization
.
The Prime Minister identified seven fronts where Israel has faced efforts to wipe us off the face of the earth
, including:
- Hamas
- Hezbollah
- The Houthis
- Iran
- Militias in Iraq
- Militias in Syria
- Palestinian terrorists in Judea and Samaria
Netanyahu also described a the eigth front in this war,
which he defined as a war for truth
being fought across social media and the world’s media.
Clashes with New York City Leadership
The Prime Minister specifically targeted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during his remarks. Mayor Mamdani had previously urged the federal government to arrest Netanyahu, citing a November 2024 arrest warrant from the world’s top war crimes tribunal that accused Netanyahu and another official of crimes against humanity. Netanyahu responded to the Mayor, stating, Mr Mamdani, you tried to stop me from coming here. You tried to silence me. Well, you can’t silence me and you can’t silence the truth,
as reported by ITV News.
Parallel Addresses and Street Protests
While Netanyahu spoke in person, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the assembly via a pre-recorded video message after the United States denied him a visa. Abbas accused the Israeli government of ethnic cleansing
and state terrorism,
asserting that the Palestinian people are facing a genocidal war
and an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe
.
Outside the U.N. headquarters, several hundred protesters blocked northbound First Avenue at East 39th Street. The demonstration included celebrities such as Cynthia Nixon and Susan Sarandon. According to the NYPD, approximately 100 people were handcuffed and loaded onto buses after failing to comply with police orders to disperse.
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