A large number of delegates leave General Assembly hall as Israeli PM launches defiant defence of Gaza and Iran war
SEPTEMBER 25, 2026: A dramatic diplomatic walkout erupted at the United Nations on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached the podium to address the 81st UN General Assembly: Scores of delegates left the chamber and large sections of the hall were visibly empty.
The walkout began as Netanyahu took the floor, with dozens of diplomats rising from their seats and leaving the General Assembly chamber. Among the delegations reported to have been absent or to have left at the start of his speech were those from North Macedonia, San Marino, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Spain, Ireland, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Sudan, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Comoros, Türkiye, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Maldives, Myanmar, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa, Senegal, Djibouti, Angola, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Eritrea, Chad, Central African Republic, Madagascar, Niger, Botswana, Uganda, Lesotho, Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Namibia, Kenya, Suriname, Panama, Venezuela, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Barbados, Colombia, Dominica, Nicaragua, Peru, Saint Lucia, Bahamas, Bolivia, Cuba, Guyana, Brazil, Chile, Tuvalu and Tonga. The departure of dozens of delegates was captured in photographs and video from inside the General Assembly hall.
Israeli officials subsequently counted 77 delegations whose seats were either empty or whose representatives left at the beginning of Netanyahu’s address.
Netanyahu responded directly to the departing delegations, accusing them of cowardice. “If there are any other moral cowards who have not yet left the hall, please do so now,” he said during the address.
The Israeli prime minister used his speech to mount a forceful defence of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and its decision to attack Iran. He rejected allegations of genocide in Gaza as “the biggest lie of the century” and argued that Israel was acting in self-defence.
The extraordinary scene unfolded against the backdrop of mounting international criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the wider regional conflict. Reuters reported that dozens of delegates streamed out as Netanyahu began speaking, underscoring the deep divisions surrounding Israel at the UN.
Netanyahu nevertheless received strong support from members of the Israeli delegation and others who remained in the chamber. The session chair repeatedly called for order as cheers, boos and the mass departure unfolded.
The walkout became one of the defining images of this year’s General Assembly, turning Netanyahu’s appearance into a highly visible confrontation over Israel’s military actions, Gaza and the widening international dispute over the war.
The UN chamber was not merely divided. For a striking moment, the empty seats became part of the speech.
JANPATH NEWS NETWORK (JNN)
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