Dozens of United Nations delegates walked out of the General Assembly as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to address world leaders on Thursday.
The delegates left the hall in a show of support for Palestine, providing a highly visible sign of the growing international opposition to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Netanyahu responded by calling those who left “moral cowards.”
He then used his address to defend Israel’s actions in Gaza and reject accusations that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians.
UN delegates walk out on Netanyahu
The walkout began as Netanyahu prepared to speak at the UN headquarters in New York.
Dozens of representatives left their seats, while supporters of Israel remained in the chamber and applauded the Israeli leader.
Netanyahu sharply criticised the delegates who walked out.
The protest came as Gaza has dominated this year’s UN General Assembly, with international leaders repeatedly raising the scale of Palestinian deaths, displacement and destruction.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the assembly this week that Gaza had experienced an “onslaught on Palestinians” with a scale of killing and destruction unlike anything he had witnessed during his time leading the UN.
Netanyahu rejects Gaza genocide allegations
Netanyahu used his speech to strongly reject accusations of genocide in Gaza.
He described the allegations as “the greatest lie of the century.”
The Israeli leader argued that Israel had taken measures to protect Palestinian civilians and again accused Hamas of operating among civilians.
Israel has consistently rejected allegations that its military campaign amounts to genocide.
However, the allegations have become a major issue in international legal proceedings and diplomatic debate over Gaza.
The International Court of Justice has issued legally binding provisional measures in South Africa’s case accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention in Gaza.
The case remains before the court, which has not issued a final judgment on whether genocide has occurred.
Gaza war faces growing international scrutiny
The walkout came amid mounting scrutiny of Israel’s conduct in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Guterres told world leaders that all parties must comply with international law and the ICJ’s orders.
He also warned about Israeli violence, displacement and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu faces separate proceedings at the International Criminal Court.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to the Gaza war.
The warrant concerns allegations and does not constitute a criminal conviction.
Netanyahu attacks Turkey and Qatar
Netanyahu also used his UN speech to attack countries that have strongly criticised Israel.
He accused Turkey of spreading what he called “anti-Semitic lies” and alleged that Turkey and Qatar had spent large sums influencing international opinion against Israel.
Those were Netanyahu’s claims.
Both countries have been outspoken critics of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and have supported Palestinian rights and statehood.
Türkiye has repeatedly described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, a characterization Israel rejects.
Netanyahu also criticised European governments and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has publicly called him a war criminal.
Walkout highlights Israel’s diplomatic pressure
The scenes inside the General Assembly highlighted the diplomatic pressure facing Israel over Gaza.
Palestinian statehood, humanitarian conditions in Gaza and Israel’s conduct of the war have featured prominently throughout this year’s high-level UN meetings.
Netanyahu nevertheless defended Israel’s military operations and rejected international criticism of his government.
Outside the UN headquarters, demonstrations also accompanied his appearance, while inside the chamber the departure of dozens of delegates provided one of the most visible protests of his address.