A massive walkout occurred at the United Nations General Assembly hall on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu started his speech. Seventy-seven delegations left the hall in protest over Israel's policies toward the Palestinians, specifically its war on Gaza. The walkout was a significant display of diplomatic isolation for Israel, with many countries showing their disapproval of Netanyahu's presence.
The protest came as delegates loudly applauded Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who addressed the Assembly by video. Abbas was barred from attending in person due to visa issues, but his pre-recorded speech was well-received. The contrast between the warm reception for Abbas and the walkout during Netanyahu's speech highlighted the deep divisions over Israel's policies.
Netanyahu's speech was marked by controversy, with the Israeli leader attacking Britain and France over their colonial histories. He claimed that Israel was being unfairly accused of colonialism, citing the historical actions of these countries. However, his comments were met with skepticism, and many delegates had already left the hall.
The Palestinian delegation had urged other missions to join the walkout in a memo seen by AFP. Several delegations walked out shortly before Netanyahu took the podium, while others had not taken their seats at all. The hall had been sparsely filled earlier in the session but gradually filled ahead of his speech.
Netanyahu also faced criticism for his comments on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, calling him a "tyrant." Erdogan has repeatedly accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and condemned its occupation of the West Bank. Netanyahu's comments were seen as an attempt to deflect criticism of Israel's actions.
The walkout echoed a similar incident at the 80th session of the General Assembly on September 26, 2025, when Netanyahu denied committing genocide in Gaza to a nearly empty hall after scores of delegates left. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant on November 21, 2024, over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The incident highlights the growing diplomatic isolation of Israel over its policies toward the Palestinians. A UN commission of inquiry concluded in September 2025 that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, and several countries have since joined a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The controversy surrounding Netanyahu's speech is likely to continue to have significant repercussions for Israel's international relations.
Key points
- Seventy-seven delegations walked out of the UN General Assembly hall as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his speech.
- The walkout was a protest over Israel's war on Gaza and its policies toward the Palestinians.
- The incident highlights the growing diplomatic isolation of Israel over its policies toward the Palestinians.
