Published Updated

Israeli Politics24 September, 20262 min read

Delegations Withdraw as Netanyahu Speaks at UNGA, Danon Calls Scene False

Dozens of delegations walked out of the UN General Assembly as Netanyahu began speaking. Mass walkouts left large sections of the hall empty, signaling Israel's isolation.

Read the story
Delegations Withdraw as Netanyahu Speaks at UNGA, Danon Calls Scene False
Image: خبرگزاری بین المللی قدس
Scored

www.timesofisrael › in-fiery-un-speech-netanyahu-blasts-iran-qatar-tu... was read line by line by the Watchdog: 7.6. See the score →

Walkout at UN podium

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday as delegations withdrew during the address, leaving the hall nearly empty. Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danon said the scene at the United Nations was a "false image," adding that representatives exited after Netanyahu took the stage.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told reporters in New York that Israel's international isolation is continuously increasing, and he linked that isolation to "assertive diplomacy" turning international sentiment into protests and policies. Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim said the walkout reflected the isolation of the "Zionist enemy," and he described Netanyahu’s speech as a "weak and defensive display."

Image from 20Minutos
Image: 20Minutos
Reporting for this sectionAl-Jazirah NetBawwābat al-Sharūq

Competing interpretations

Netanyahu’s speech drew cheers at home as delegates from dozens of countries walked out before he spoke, and Al Jazeera said Netanyahu defended Israel’s “genocide” claims and repeated attacks on neighbours. Qatar’s deputy chief of mission at the Qatari Embassy in Washington, Hamad AlMuftah, responded to Netanyahu’s claims by saying, "At a moment of profound regional and domestic political turmoil, attacking one of the countries doing the difficult work of mediation does nothing to solve the problem," while referencing the walkout.

Israeli pollster Mitchell Barak said Netanyahu’s speech was designed so that delegates who stayed would believe Israel’s wars since 2023 had been fought not only in its own interests, but also on behalf of allies and the wider international community. ABC reported that Spain boycotted Netanyahu’s speech, and it quoted Netanyahu telling the chamber, "If there are more moral cowards who have not yet left the room, please do so now."

Image from ABC
Image: ABC
Reporting for this sectionAl JazeeraABC

Elections, ICC, and fallout

Amid the walkout, multiple sources tied the UN appearance to Netanyahu’s political future, with Al Jazeera saying the speech came a month ahead of critical parliamentary elections that may force him out of office. Al Jazeera also reported that Netanyahu claimed leaders whose delegates walked out had privately thanked Israel for “taking out Iran’s nukes,” while it said the speech pinned blame on others.

The Al-Jazirah Net account said Netanyahu has been wanted since 2024 to appear before the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza, and it added that in November 2024 the ICC issued two arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Al Jazeera reported that Netanyahu attacked New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani as an antiSemite and claimed Jews were being “demonised” in New York, while it said Mamdani referenced the ICC warrant and “baseless lies” intended to “sanitise his genocide of Palestinians.”

Reporting for this sectionAl JazeeraAl-Jazirah Net