Netanyahu’s UN Address Met by Walkout of 77 Delegations, Highlighting Israel’s Diplomatic Isolation

Shiite News: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly was met by a mass walkout, with reports stating that delegations from 77 countries left the hall as he began speaking. The largely empty chamber drew widespread attention and was described by critics of Israel as a sign of its growing diplomatic isolation.

According to reports, dozens of delegations left the General Assembly hall in protest over Israel’s war in Gaza and its policies toward Palestinians. Netanyahu responded at the beginning of his speech by referring to those who had left as “moral cowards” and challenged other delegates to leave as well.

During his approximately 40-minute address, Netanyahu defended Israel’s military actions and criticized Iran, Qatar, Türkiye and other governments that have opposed Israeli policies. He rejected allegations of genocide in Gaza, describing them as the “biggest lie of the century,” while maintaining that Israel’s military campaign was aimed at defending the country.

The speech came amid continuing international scrutiny of Israel’s conduct in Gaza. A UN Commission of Inquiry concluded in 2025 that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, a finding that Israel rejects. Separately, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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The walkout and the largely empty chamber were widely interpreted by commentators as reflecting growing international criticism of Israel. However, the exact number and identity of all delegations that left cannot be independently established from an official UN country-by-country attendance record.