SCORES of delegates at the United Nations have walked out during Benjamin Netanyahu's speech in protest as the Israeli prime minister branded them as “moral cowards”.
Netanyahu took to the stage on Thursday at the UN's General Assembly in New York to address delegates from across the world.
However, the Israeli prime minister was left visibly angry after dozens of delegates began to get up from their seats and leave the room in protest against the genocide in Gaza.
A number of boos could be heard as delegates trooped out and left the majority of seats empty afterwards.
A small pocket of Israeli delegates left chanting and clapping in support of Netanyahu.
“Order in the hall, please,” General Assembly president Khalilur Rahman said repeatedly.
The Israeli prime minister described those walking out as “moral cowards” before adding that those who remained and felt similarly should also leave.
Delegates at the UN General Assembly in New York walk out as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives to deliver a speech. He responds by calling them "moral cowards".https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/M0rn4B4mgs
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An arrest warrant for Netanyahu was issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with Israel's war on Gaza.
Israel has repeatedly rejected the allegations and has disputed the court's jurisdiction.
The Palestinian Mission to the UN urged in a message to many of the 193 UN member nations to bring as many staff as possible to the assembly hall and “collectively walk out of the assembly” once the Israeli prime minister is announced.
“This will send a clear message to Netanyahu and his government that no one is willing to aid, abet, or be complicit in its genocide and war crimes and illegal occupation, which all peace-loving states and peoples demand must come to an end,” the message said.
Israel rejects allegations that it committed genocide and war crimes and is illegally occupying Palestinian territory.
All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law, but the Israeli government insists they are legal.
“In defending itself, Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall,” Netanyahu told the mostly empty hall.
“In fact, I want you to know that many of their leaders even thank us privately for taking out Iran’s nukes.”
Netanyahu thanked US President Donald Trump for taking decisive action against Iran, and he insisted Israel would prevail: “We will continue to win because we have no other choice.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also addressed the UN General Assembly earlier on Thursday, delivering pre-recorded remarks from his office in Ramallah after the US denied him and other top Palestinian officials visas to attend the gathering for the second year in a row.
“We will not leave our homeland. We will not accept displacement. And we will not allow anyone to decide our future on our behalf,” Abbas said.
Though world leaders have repeatedly invoked the plight of Palestinians in speeches throughout the week, Abbas urged the international community to take more tangible action against Israel.
“How long will some countries continue to remain silent about Israel, or continue supplying it with weapons that it uses against our people? The world has witnessed the enormous cost in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,” Abbas said.
“What, then, is the international community waiting for before it acts to protect the Palestinian people?”
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