Netanyahu Attacks Enemies and Allies in Fiery UN Speech, Sparking Mass Envoy Walkout

When delegations from dozens of nations walked out of the United Nations General Assembly during the Russian envoy's address in 2022, the target was a state already isolated by sweeping global sanctions. When representatives emptied the hall on September 24, 2026, the target was Israel—a close United States ally—and the speaker at the podium responded by attacking the mayor of the host city, the leaders of Western Europe, and the delegates themselves. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a combative address to a near-empty chamber at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, aggressively pushing back against his country's growing international isolation.[1][2][4][7][8]

The mass walkout was led by the Palestinian Mission to the UN. As Netanyahu approached the podium, envoys from across the globe stood up and exited, leaving sections of the hall vacant. Reports indicated that representatives from Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Malaysia, and Turkey were among those who departed. The Israeli leader watched the exodus and addressed the departing diplomats directly. "If there are any other moral cowards who haven't left this hall, please do so now," Netanyahu said over the noise of jeers and the assembly president shouting for order.[1][3][6][7][8]

The prime minister used the platform to defend the recent US-Israeli military campaign against Iran and the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Framing the conflicts as a battle for survival, Netanyahu claimed the operations as a victory. "Devastating Iran's nuclear facilities was hard. It was very hard to do. But for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I've ever had to make as prime minister," he stated. He asserted that Israel was fighting a "seven-front war" and defending the very nations whose delegates had just walked out.[8]

Netanyahu's rhetoric extended far beyond regional adversaries, taking direct aim at Western allies and local officials. He accused Britain and France of hypocrisy for criticizing Israel's policies, noting their own histories of colonialism. He labeled Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a "tyrant" and a "super-spreader of antisemitic lies." The prime minister also launched a highly personal attack on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing the local leader of succumbing to "antisemitic mobs" and claiming that under his administration, "many Jews no longer feel safe in New York."[7][8]

Mamdani, who had previously threatened to execute an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Netanyahu before conceding he lacked the jurisdiction, fired back swiftly. "Netanyahu used his speech to repeat baseless lies meant to sanitize his genocide of Palestinians," the mayor said in a statement. Mamdani emphasized that the Israeli leader remains the subject of an ICC warrant alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity, a charge stemming from the military campaign in Gaza.[7]

The diplomatic friction inside the UN headquarters was mirrored by significant unrest on the streets of Manhattan. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the complex, blocking First Avenue and unfurling banners that read "Fund people not bombs" and "Let Gaza live." The New York Police Department detained more than 100 protesters who refused orders to disperse. Among those arrested were prominent actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder, alongside whistleblower Chelsea Manning and several local political candidates.[2][5][7]

The protests and the speech occur against the backdrop of staggering human costs. The Israeli military offensive in Gaza has killed nearly 74,000 Palestinians and wounded 175,000, according to figures cited by human rights organizations. The campaign was launched in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people. Despite the mounting death toll and accusations of genocide from UN experts, Netanyahu maintained that the military actions were necessary to protect Israeli civilians.[8]

Addressing the occupied West Bank, Netanyahu minimized the escalating violence by Israeli settlers, which has drawn sanctions from European nations and the United States. He characterized the unrest as the work of "a handful of young juvenile delinquents, about 150 in number, who throw stones, who chop down olive trees." This framing sharply contrasts with recent statements from regional leaders, including Jordanian King Abdullah II, who accused Israel of de facto annexation and war crimes in the territory.[8]

The aggressive posture at the UN is closely tied to Netanyahu's domestic political survival. The prime minister faces a difficult reelection campaign, with voters heading to the polls on October 27, 2026. By projecting strength on the global stage and singling out US President Donald Trump as Israel's greatest partner, Netanyahu sought to rally his right-wing base at home. The strategy relies on framing international criticism not as a response to state policy, but as a coordinated campaign of antisemitism that only his administration can withstand.[7][8]