Netanyahu faces mass walkout during UN General Assembly speech

On September 24, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a mass walkout by dozens of diplomatic delegations at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The protest delayed the start of his address, as delegates expressed their opposition to Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. Responding to the empty seats, Netanyahu labeled those who departed as "moral cowards" and challenged those remaining to leave if they also identified as such, while his own delegation greeted him with applause.

During his speech, Netanyahu defended the military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, stating it was a necessary action to prevent the destruction of Israel. He also criticized France and the United Kingdom for accusing Israel of colonialism, questioning their historical records on the subject. Furthermore, he launched a severe verbal attack on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, labeling him a tyrant who illegally occupies northern Cyprus, threatens Greece, and suppresses domestic opposition. Regarding the regional conflicts, Netanyahu boasted about recent operations against Hezbollah, displaying a device during the speech that he claimed was a pager used by the militant group, and emphasized that Israel continues to fight while awaiting support from international allies.