Delegates stage mass walkout before Israeli PM Netanyahu's UN address
- Last updated: September 26, 2025 | 19:03
Dozens of delegates from multiple nations walked out of the U.N. General Assembly hall en masse Friday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stepped up to give a speech about the Mideast situation to the world's leaders and, beyond them, many of its people.
As he spoke, unintelligible shouts echoed around the hall. The US delegation, which has backed Netanyahu in his campaign against Hamas, stayed put. Applause rang out in other quarters as he began his speech.
As he has in the past, Netanyahu held up a visual aid — a map of the region titled "THE CURSE.” He marked it up with a large marker.
Netanyahu faces international isolation, accusations of war crimes and growing pressure to end a conflict he has continued to escalate. Friday's speech was his chance to push back on the international community’s biggest platform.
In recent days, Australia, Canada, France, the United Kingdom and others announced their recognition of an independent Palestinian state.
The European Union is considering tariffs and sanctions on Israel. The assembly this month passed a nonbinding resolution urging Israel to commit to an independent Palestinian nation, which Netanyahu has said is a non-starter.
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant accusing Netanyahu of crimes against humanity, which he denies. And the UN’s highest court is weighing South Africa's allegation that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, which it vehemently refutes.
Against that backdrop, Netanyahu sounded resolute pm Thursday as he boarded a plane in Israel to head for the UN’s annual meeting of top-level leaders in New York.
Associated Press