More Than 100 Delegates Walk Out of Netanyahu's UN General Assembly Speech
24 September: the Israeli PM defended his positions on Gaza and Iran; the Palestinian president called it a genocidal war.
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium at the UN General Assembly on 24 September, more than 100 delegates walked out of the hall. According to reports, Arab and Muslim delegations led the walkout, followed by several African and European countries. It was the second consecutive year of a mass walkout.
What Netanyahu said
Netanyahu defended Israel's military operation in Gaza as a response to the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack, calling it self-defence. He also said Israel had prevented Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and criticised New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The Palestinian response
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking by video, called the events in Gaza a genocidal war and described Israel's actions as a scheme aimed at displacing Palestinians.
In brief
- Date: 24 September 2026, UN General Assembly
- Delegates who walked out: more than 100
- Netanyahu: defended the Gaza operation
- Iran: stressed preventing nuclear weapons
- Abbas: called the events a genocidal war
- Second consecutive year of a mass walkout
