Iceland’s foreign minister turns Netanyahu’s “moral cowards” jibe back on him

Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir told the UN General Assembly that the real “moral cowards” are leaders who refuse to negotiate a just peace, block humanitarian aid and disregard international law, after Netanyahu used the phrase against those who walked out on his speech.

Iceland’s Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir hit back at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in her address to the UN General Assembly, after he described delegates who walked out during his speech as “moral cowards.”

“We have heard the words ‘moral cowards’ from this podium. To me, moral cowards are those leaders around the world who refuse to sit down and negotiate a just and lasting peace. Those who deny access to humanitarian aid for people in desperate need. And moral cowards are those leaders who repeatedly go against and disrespect international law,” she said, speaking about Gaza.

Iceland has been among the most outspoken European critics of Israel’s war in Gaza. It withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s participation, and Gunnarsdóttir co-signed a joint statement describing Israel’s intensified offensive in Gaza as a flagrant violation of international law.