Mass walkout at UN General Assembly at start of Netanyahu’s speech

New York: Dozens of delegates walked out of the UN General Assembly hall as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address, staging a highly visible protest against Israel’s military actions and the ongoing Gaza war. The walkout left Netanyahu speaking to a visibly depleted chamber as representatives from several countries walked out, according to reports.

The protest came as Netanyahu used the UN platform to defend Israel’s military campaigns in Gaza, Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East. He responded to those leaving by attacking them and challenging other delegates who remained to follow them out, before insisting that Israel would continue its military campaign.

Netanyahu also rejected allegations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, amid mounting international criticism of its conduct in the Palestinian territory. The Israeli prime minister further lashed out at governments and leaders critical of Israel, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The address followed a video speech by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who accused Israel of subjecting Palestinians in Gaza to widespread killing, destruction, starvation and displacement. Abbas also criticised the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning that such policies were undermining prospects for a two-state solution.

Abbas addressed the assembly remotely after being denied entry to the US.

Netanyahu is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over war crimes in Gaza. He has rejected the allegations against him and Israel.

The walkout underscored the sharp divisions surrounding Israel’s conduct in Gaza as Netanyahu sought to use the international forum to defend his government’s military actions.