dexinwin NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2026— Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a forceful address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, but his speech was accompanied by a striking scene: dozens of delegates walked out of the hall shortly after he began speaking, leaving large sections of the chamber visibly empty.
Reuters reported that dozens of UN delegates left the General Assembly hall as Netanyahu began his address on September 24. Photographs from the session showed rows of vacant seats after the walkout.
The departure became one of the most notable moments of Netanyahu's appearance at this year's General Assembly, highlighting the sharp international divisions surrounding Israel's military actions and the war in Gaza.
Delegates Leave as Netanyahu Takes the Podium
As Netanyahu began his speech, representatives from a number of countries stood up and left the chamber.
The walkout was not a complete departure by all delegations. Some representatives remained in their seats and continued listening to the Israeli prime minister. However, the number of people leaving was large enough to create extensive empty spaces throughout the hall.
Reuters photographs from the scene showed empty seats in the General Assembly chamber after the delegates walked out.
The visual contrast was striking: Netanyahu continued speaking from the podium while much of the surrounding seating area had become noticeably less crowded.
Netanyahu Calls Those Who Left “Moral Cowards”
Netanyahu responded directly to the walkout during his address.
He criticized the delegates who had left and referred to them as “moral cowards,” telling those who had not yet departed to leave if they shared the same position.
Despite the departures, Netanyahu continued his speech without interruption.
Members of the Israeli delegation and some supporters remained in the hall and applauded during portions of the address.
The confrontation between the speaker and the departing delegations turned the opening moments of the speech into a highly visible diplomatic exchange.
Netanyahu Defends Israel's Military Actions
A major part of Netanyahu's speech focused on defending Israel's military actions in the region.
He discussed Israel's confrontation with Iran and its continuing war with Hamas, arguing that Israel's military operations were necessary for the country's security.
Netanyahu also rejected allegations that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, describing the accusations as false and defending Israel's conduct in the conflict.
Reuters reported that Netanyahu had planned to use his UN appearance to defend Israel's actions and respond to growing criticism over the Gaza war.
The speech came against the backdrop of continuing international debate over Israel's conduct in Gaza and the humanitarian situation there.
Netanyahu Also Targets New York Mayor Mamdani
Netanyahu also used the speech to criticize New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has been an outspoken critic of Israel's actions in Gaza.
During his address, Netanyahu directly responded to Mamdani's criticism and challenged his position on Israel and the war.
Reuters reported that Netanyahu had signaled before the speech that he intended to confront criticism from Mamdani during his appearance at the United Nations.
The exchange added a domestic American political dimension to what was otherwise an international diplomatic event.
Protests Outside the UN Headquarters
The controversy was not limited to the General Assembly chamber.
Protests were also held outside the United Nations headquarters in New York while Netanyahu was delivering his speech. The demonstrations reflected the wider divisions surrounding Israel's military campaign and the Gaza conflict.
The combination of demonstrations outside the building and the walkout inside the General Assembly created a highly charged atmosphere around Netanyahu's appearance.
A Divided Diplomatic Environment
The walkout should not necessarily be interpreted as a single, coordinated diplomatic decision by every country whose representatives left the hall.
The scene demonstrated, however, the extent to which Israel's policies and the Gaza war have become contentious issues at the international level.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly called for an end to ongoing conflicts and urged countries to pursue de-escalation and dialogue. In his opening address to the 81st General Assembly, he said that conflicts across the Middle East were continuing to place civilians at risk and called on world leaders to use the high-level week to pursue diplomacy.
Against that backdrop, Netanyahu's speech offered a strong defense of Israel's position while the walkout provided a highly visible demonstration of disagreement inside the UN chamber.
The Empty Seats Become a Symbolic Image
By the time Netanyahu continued his address, the empty seats had become one of the defining images of the event.
The Israeli prime minister continued speaking despite the departures, emphasizing Israel's security concerns and challenging his critics.
For observers of international diplomacy, the episode illustrated the deep divisions surrounding the Gaza conflict. The same UN chamber served simultaneously as a platform for Netanyahu to present Israel's position and as a setting where other governments and delegations could visibly signal their disagreement.
The September 24 session therefore became notable not only for what Netanyahu said, but also for what happened around him: representatives walking out, empty seats spreading across the hall, and the Israeli prime minister continuing his speech despite the visible opposition.
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