UN Delegates Walk Out as Netanyahu Defends Israel

Dozens of UN delegations walked out as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his General Assembly address in protest over Israel’s war in Gaza, leaving large sections of the chamber empty. Netanyahu called the departing diplomats “moral cowards,” rejected genocide allegations as a “greatest lie,” and defended Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and operations against Iran and Hamas as necessary for security and hostage recovery; he also said Israel was protecting other countries from Iran, while U.S. intelligence reporting cited in coverage said it had found no indication Iran’s leaders had decided to build a nuclear weapon. He praised President Donald Trump as Israel’s strongest partner and attacked Iran, Qatar, Turkey, Western governments and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing Mamdani of supporting Hamas, inciting violence against Jewish New Yorkers and antisemitism; Mamdani said Netanyahu was repeating falsehoods to justify Israel’s actions and cited the ICC arrest warrant alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity. Gov. Kathy Hochul called Netanyahu’s claims about Mamdani false while condemning Hamas’s October 7 attack and affirming her support for Israel. The speech came amid international criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank, weeks before Israel’s October 27 election, with Netanyahu facing a close contest at home; hundreds protested outside UN headquarters, and police detained demonstrators including actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder. Separately, Netanyahu’s office called French President Emmanuel Macron’s criticism of Israel’s West Bank actions “grotesque” and said Hamas terrorists were carrying out attacks there.