Netanyahu Calls UN Delegates ‘Moral Cowards’ After Mass Walkout During Speech

Dozens of delegates walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium to deliver his address. Netanyahu responded by calling the departing diplomats ‘moral cowards’ and invited others to follow them.

The walkout occurred as Netanyahu began his speech at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The Palestinian Mission to the UN had urged member states to leave the chamber collectively once Netanyahu was announced.

Netanyahu Defends Iran Strike and Rejects Genocide Claims

In his address, Netanyahu defended Israel’s military actions in Gaza and its strikes against Iran’s nuclear program. He described the attack on Iran as ‘one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make as Prime Minister. Because if we hadn’t done it, we’d all be dead.’

Netanyahu rejected allegations of genocide in Gaza, calling them ‘the biggest lie of the century.’ He stated: ‘Here’s the simple truth. Israel didn’t commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide.’

He also dismissed reports of settler violence in the West Bank, referring to it as the work of ‘a handful of juvenile delinquents.’

Delegates Leave as Netanyahu Begins Speaking

As Netanyahu walked to the rostrum, a mix of cheers, boos and mass walkouts erupted. General Assembly president Khalilur Rahman repeatedly called for order in the hall.

Netanyahu then said: ‘If there are any other moral cowards who have not yet left the hall, please do so now.’

He added: ‘In defending itself, Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall. In fact, I want you to know that many of their leaders even thank us privately for taking out Iran’s nukes.’

Delegations from Middle Eastern, Arab and other nations walked out in succession. Photos from the chamber showed empty seats belonging to several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Algeria, Malaysia, Türkiye, Qatar and Palestine, among others.

Protests Outside UN Lead to Celebrity Detentions

Outside the UN headquarters, hundreds of demonstrators gathered to protest Netanyahu’s appearance. The rally was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, a Jewish activist group supporting Palestinians.

Roughly 200 anti-Israel protesters gathered near the United Nations before the speech, with dozens blocking traffic and chanting: ‘Stop arming Israel, let Gaza live’ and ‘Stop arming Israel, let Iran live.’

Actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder were among more than two dozen protesters detained by the New York Police Department. Photos showed Sarandon, 79, and Einbinder, 31, in handcuffs. Sarandon wore a shirt that said ‘fund people not bombs.’ Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier and New York City council member Chi Osse were also arrested.

Abbas Addresses Assembly After Visa Denial

Earlier on Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the assembly through pre-recorded remarks after the United States denied him and other top Palestinian officials visas to attend for the second consecutive year.

Abbas said the existence of the Palestinian people is under threat and the two-state solution has been severely undermined. He stated: ‘The danger is no longer limited to undermining the two-state solution and preventing the realization of the Palestinian state, it threatens the very existence of the Palestinian people.’

He called for greater international efforts to preserve the two-state solution, noting that ‘neither military occupation nor settler terrorism will pave the way to that solution.’

New York Mayor Criticizes Speech

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized Netanyahu’s speech following the address. Ahead of Netanyahu’s visit, Mamdani had said the U.S. should honor a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest issued by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Gaza. The U.S. is not a member of the court.

Netanyahu took aim at Mamdani during his speech, saying: ‘Mr. Mamdani, you tried to stop me from coming here. You tried to silence me. Well, you can’t silence me. You can’t silence the truth.’

The Israeli prime minister is facing an election next month widely seen as a referendum on his handling of the security failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, attacks and his ability to defend Israel’s reputation internationally.

As of Friday, September 25, 2026, Netanyahu’s speech has drawn widespread international reaction. The mass walkout and his response have been reported by major news organizations worldwide. The detained protesters, including Sarandon and Einbinder, were issued summonses and released. No further official statements from the Israeli government or the United Nations regarding the walkout have been released.