United Nations delegates walked out en masse in protest as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium at the General Assembly on Friday morning. The U.S. delegation did not participate in the protest.
The walkout came amid mounting international criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The move left the hall visibly empty for the duration of Netanyahu’s speech.
In his remarks, Netanyahu framed the war in Gaza as a battle of good versus evil, denied that Israel is targeting civilians, condemned the recent recognition of a Palestinian state by France and the U.K. as “sheer madness,” and said Israel recognizing Palestine would be “national suicide.” He thanked President Trump directly, railed against what he called “Iran’s terror axis” — including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis — and urged for the immediate release of hostages.
Adding another layer of controversy: In an unprecedented move, the Israeli military seized control of cellphone networks in Gaza in addition to putting up speakers along the Gazan border to broadcast his remarks live directly to residents and Hamas, Netanyahu announced in his speech.
