NEW YORK: A mass walkout by dozens of delegations at the United Nations General Assembly drew widespread international attention as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to deliver his speech.
According to Israeli media reports, representatives of 77 countries were absent from the General Assembly hall during Netanyahu’s address. Several delegations reportedly left the chamber shortly before he took the podium, while representatives of some countries were already absent from their seats.
Video footage from the UN showed a significant number of delegates leaving the hall ahead of the speech. The departure was accompanied by protest chants and expressions of opposition, turning the opening moments of Netanyahu’s address into a highly visible diplomatic protest.
The incident also received extensive coverage in Israeli media. Channel 14 described the walkout in strongly critical terms, while Yedioth Ahronoth characterized it as a dramatic protest. Haaretz also focused on the political dimensions of Netanyahu’s address and its appeal to his domestic political base and US President Donald Trump.
International media outlets likewise highlighted the scene. The Guardian reported that Netanyahu vowed to “finish the job” in Gaza as delegates left the chamber, while The Washington Post linked the walkout to growing international criticism of Israel’s policies. The Independent highlighted the unusually limited audience remaining in the hall.
Outside the United Nations headquarters, protesters gathered in New York’s Times Square, calling for an end to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The walkout came amid continuing international debate over Israel’s military operations in Gaza, the mounting civilian toll and destruction, and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The episode at the UN underscored the sharp divisions surrounding Israel’s conduct of the war and the growing diplomatic and political pressure surrounding the Gaza conflict.
The mass departure has since become a major focus of discussion across international and Israeli media, reflecting the increasingly contentious atmosphere surrounding Israel’s position at the United Nations.