Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a visible diplomatic protest as he took the podium at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday.
Dozens of delegates stood up and walked out of the General Assembly hall as Netanyahu began his address, while boos and jeers could also be heard during the disruption.
The walkout left numerous seats empty as Netanyahu remained at the podium and waited for the commotion inside the chamber to subside.
Netanyahu then directly addressed the delegates leaving the hall, describing them as “moral cowards” and telling anyone else who shared their position to leave before he continued his speech.
The protest came amid intense international criticism of Israel’s military operations and policies toward Palestinians, particularly over the war in Gaza. Israel rejects accusations that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide and says its military operations have targeted Hamas.
During his address, Netanyahu defended Israel’s military actions and also spoke about Iran, Gaza, Syria and Israel’s wider regional conflicts.
He additionally targeted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has been a vocal critic of Netanyahu and previously called for his arrest. Netanyahu accused Mamdani of attempting to silence him, allegations the mayor rejected.
The walkout inside the UN coincided with demonstrations against Netanyahu elsewhere in New York, including protests near the United Nations headquarters.
The scenes inside the General Assembly became one of the most striking moments of Netanyahu’s 2026 UN appearance, with diplomats leaving the chamber as the Israeli prime minister prepared to defend his government’s policies before world leaders.
