Netanyahu's UN Speech Sparks Walkouts Amid Controversy

Sun Sep 28 2025 23:29:20 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemns recognition of a Palestinian state in a contentious UN speech that leads to dramatic walkouts by diplomats.

In a showdown at the UN General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Western nations for recognizing Palestine as a state, calling it a 'mark of shame'. His remarks prompted dozens of diplomats to walk out, demonstrating the heightened tensions surrounding Israel's military actions in Gaza and the ongoing conflict. Amid international pressure and civil unrest, Netanyahu defended Israel's military operations and aimed to communicate with hostages in Gaza, leading to mixed reactions at home and abroad.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has attacked the recognition of a Palestinian state by multiple Western countries during a combative speech at the UN General Assembly.

Netanyahu labelled the recognition moves a 'mark of shame' that sent the message that 'murdering Jews pays off'.

Dozens of officials and diplomats staged a walk-out as he took to the podium, leaving large parts of the conference hall empty. Outside, protesters against Israel's war in Gaza gathered in Times Square.

Israel has come under huge international pressure over its military action in Gaza, culminating in the UK, France, Canada, Australia and other countries recognising a Palestinian state this week.

In his opening remarks, Netanyahu displayed a map labelled 'The Curse' that he said showed Iranian proxy groups across the Middle East. He then highlighted Israeli military operations across the past year against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza, and Iran.

He thanked US President Donald Trump for American involvement in bombing Iran's Fordo nuclear site in June and drew parallels between Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on Israel and the 9/11 attack on the US.

The Israeli prime minister repeated that Israel would not allow a Palestinian state to exist and said this position was supported by the vast majority of Israelis.

He went on to rebuff the conclusion of a UN commission of inquiry that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, claiming the charge was 'baseless'. He also rejected statements by multiple UN agencies that Israel was deliberately restricting the amount of aid entering Gaza.

Ahead of his speech, Netanyahu's office ordered that the Israeli military mount loudspeakers on trucks near the Gaza perimeter fence to broadcast his speech live, aiming to reach Israeli hostages in Gaza.

Netanyahu's address faced criticism from various political leaders in Israel, with opposition leader Yair Lapid branding it a display of 'weary and whining', and Yair Golan labeling the loudspeaker move as 'propaganda show'.

International journalists remain unable to enter Gaza independently, complicating the verification of claims from both sides amidst the ongoing conflict.

As tensions run high, the Israeli military campaign in Gaza continues following a Hamas-led attack in October 2023, with significant casualties reported on both sides.