Netanyahu Defends Military Actions as Delegates Walk Out of UN Speech

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to reaffirm Israel's military operations in Iran, Gaza and other regions, stating that the country "has no other choice" and pledging victory. The speech was interrupted when dozens of delegates exited the chamber in protest.

"If there are any other moral cowards who haven't left the hall, please do so now," Netanyahu said, calling on remaining critics to depart. Earlier, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivered a recorded message condemning Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and describing the situation in Gaza as a "genocidal war" that threatens the Palestinian people’s existence. Abbas, who addressed the assembly via video after being denied a U.S. visa, warned that the policies jeopardize the two-state solution. Netanyahu, who faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, accused several countries of unfairly labeling Israel as a colonial power and singled out Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a "tyrant" for alleged support of Hamas. He also criticized New York City Mayor Eric Adams, claiming that Jewish residents feel less safe since his election. "Since you were elected mayor of this city, many Jews no longer feel safe in New York," Netanyahu said. The Israeli leader thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for what he described as "bold leadership" in joint air strikes against Tehran in February, saying the actions were meant to protect both nations and "save civilisation." Protesters, including actress Susan Sarandon and comedian Hannah Einbinder, were detained by New York authorities during demonstrations against Netanyahu’s appearance. The ongoing Israeli ground offensive in Gaza, launched after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, has resulted in a death toll reported by Gaza’s health ministry at more than 73,900 people. A resolution by the International Association of Genocide Scholars asserted that Israel’s conduct meets the legal definition of genocide under the UN convention.