Israeli Politics · updated 2h ago · 2 min read
Dozens of Delegations Walk Out as Benjamin Netanyahu Calls Them “Moral Cowards” at UNGA
Dozens of UN envoys walked out as Netanyahu began his UN General Assembly address. Netanyahu called those who left the hall 'moral cowards' during his speech.
Whether the walkout is presented as protest or provocation.
6 of 9 outlets skipped it: netanyahu held up a pager during his speech.
Fox News was read line by line by the Watchdog: 4.2. See the score →
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The Guardian
“Dozens of delegates left the room in support of Palestine as the Israeli prime minister walked to the podium on Thursday”Read the original ↗
Fox News
“if there are any other moral cowards who haven't yet left this hall, please do so now,”Read the original ↗
The Guardian frames the walkout as pro-Palestine protest visuals, while Fox frames it as a provocation to Netanyahu’s 'moral cowards' response.
Walkout Greets Netanyahu
Dozens of United Nations delegates walked out of the assembly hall as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his UN General Assembly address on Thursday in New York. Netanyahu described the walkout as “moral cowards,” and he told those who remained that “If there are any other moral cowards who have not yet left the hall, please do so now.” The Israeli delegation could be seen cheering Netanyahu in support.
Israel faced condemnation for its actions in Gaza and Lebanon, and a UN commission of inquiry has previously accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, which Israel strongly rejected. The BBC further said the war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage, and it added that more than 73,920 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry.
Netanyahu Blames and Defends
Netanyahu told world leaders that allegations of Israeli genocide in Gaza were not only false but “the biggest lie of the century,” as scores of delegates left before he started speaking. Netanyahu said attacking Iran “was one of the easiest decisions [he's] ever had to make,” and he argued that “In defending itself, Israel is also also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall.” The Palestinian Mission to the UN urged representatives of the 193 UN member nations to come to the chamber and “collectively walk out of the assembly” once Netanyahu was announced.
Netanyahu’s speech came as Israel faced growing criticism from world leaders at this year’s assembly over its genocidal war in Gaza, and the walkout was described as a protest during his address. Delegates walked out as Netanyahu began his UN General Assembly address on Thursday, framing the speech as occurring while Israel faced growing criticism over its “genocidal war in Gaza.”
Arrest Warrant and Election
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani planted an olive tree at Gracie Mansion Wednesday night ahead of Netanyahu’s address, and Mamdani later said Netanyahu used the UN speech to “repeat baseless lies meant to sanitize his genocide of Palestinians.” Mamdani said no lie could “change the fact that [Netanyahu] remains the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity,” and the Haaretz account added that Netanyahu responded by saying “Shame on you” to Mamdani. Al Jazeera said Netanyahu’s UN speech came as Israel faced growing criticism from world leaders at this year’s assembly over its genocidal war in Gaza, and it described the walkout of dozens of delegates from the assembly hall.
Al-Manar TV Lebanon said the walkout reflected “mortal political combat” to Netanyahu and argued it was expected to affect the results of the upcoming Knesset elections. The BBC said Israel has strongly rejected the accusations of genocide in Gaza, and it added that the UN commission of inquiry had previously accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.