Netanyahu Calls Departing UN Delegates 'Moral Cowards' After Dozens Walk Out as He Took the Podium
The Palestinian delegation organized the protest as Netanyahu defended Israel’s Gaza war and called departing diplomats “moral cowards,” while the chamber booed and emptied.
- On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly, where dozens of delegates walked out in protest as he reached the rostrum, leaving large sections of the chamber visibly empty.
- The Palestinian Mission to the UN urged representatives from 193 nations to "collectively walk out of the assembly" to protest Israel's military actions in Gaza and alleged war crimes and illegal occupation.
- Netanyahu branded the departing delegates "moral cowards" and defended Israel's strikes on Iran as "one of the easiest decisions" he has made, claiming many world leaders privately thanked him for the action.
- The address followed a bitter public feud with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who accused Netanyahu of war crimes and called for his arrest; Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon defended the trip as necessary.
- With Israel's general election roughly five weeks away, analysts described the address as a "campaign speech" targeting both Mamdani and Iran; Netanyahu departed on a "tight schedule" before the Jewish holiday of Sukkot began Friday.
275 Articles
275 Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
Delegates walk out as Netanyahu enters UN General Assembly
Dozens of delegates at the United Nations walked out of the hall when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his speech to the General Assembly meeting of world leaders.
'Moral cowards, please leave': Netanyahu's full UN speech; Iran, Mamdani & Macron in crosshairs
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly during an unusually brief visit to New York. Dozens of diplomats walked out as he began. He branded them ‘moral cowards’ and said that in attacking Iran, Israel is defending many of the countries whose diplomats walked out. The Israeli leader also dismissed allegations of genocide in Gaza as “the biggest lie of the century”.
The Israeli prime minister called those who left the room cowards.
UN delegates walk out as Netanyahu attacks Israel's critics
Speaking to scores of empty chairs after a mass walkout, Benjamin Netanyahu uses his UN speech to lavish praise on Donald Trump, savage Zohran Mamdani and predict Iran's population will topple its ruling regime.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 42% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
