Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a largely empty hall yesterday as many diplomats and officials walked out during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
The protest underscored Israel’s deepening isolation as it continues its war in Gaza.
Images and video footage showed large numbers of representatives leaving the chamber as Netanyahu approached the stage, leaving only the Israeli delegation and a handful of others in attendance.
Israel’s Channel 12 described the walkout as ‘evidence of the world’s negative perception of Israel,’ while other Israeli media outlets called it a ‘public embarrassment for Netanyahu before the international community’.
As delegations filed out, the president of the General Assembly tried to contain the situation, saying: “Please respect the rules of the session… please take your seats.” However, the majority of delegates continued their exit.
According to media reports, the Palestinian mission to the UN had circulated a message to delegations in New York urging a co-ordinated walkout once Netanyahu began speaking. The message stressed the importance of sending a clear signal that the international community ‘will not be complicit in genocide, war crimes and illegal occupation’.
The Israeli outlet Walla reported that the message asked delegations to attend the session with large numbers of staff in the morning, then stage a mass walkout as Netanyahu took the podium, ensuring the moment was documented and conveyed to global public opinion.
As Netanyahu spoke at the assembly, New York and several other US cities witnessed massive demonstrations in solidarity with Gaza, denouncing Israel’s crimes and protesting the participation of the Israeli premier – whom protesters described as a war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court. Demonstrators carried banners demanding an end to the war and accountability for Israel’s violations.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel – with US and European backing – has waged a campaign in Gaza described by many international observers as genocide.
The assault has included mass killings, starvation, destruction, displacement and arrests, in defiance of international appeals and binding orders by the International Court of Justice to halt the offensive.
The toll has been devastating more than 231,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured, the majority of them children and women, with more than 11,000 still missing.
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