Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his address to the 81st UN General Assembly on Thursday to deliver a sharp defence of Israel’s war in Gaza and its recent military strike on Iran, while facing a coordinated walkout by dozens of delegations.
Speaking at the UN headquarters, Netanyahu called accusations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza “the greatest lie of the century”. “Here’s the simple truth. Israel didn’t commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide,” he said, arguing that Israel’s operations targeted Hamas and included steps to protect civilians.
He pointed to aid flows into Gaza as proof against the genocide charge. “What genocidal regime enables the distribution of 2 million tons of food into Gaza?” Netanyahu asked, adding that food and vaccine shipments had been allowed for a population that includes about one million children and teenagers.
Delegates leave hall, Netanyahu calls them “moral cowards”
As Netanyahu approached the rostrum, a large number of delegates stood up and walked out in protest. Photos from the hall showed rows of empty seats, with several countries leaving the chamber almost entirely vacant. The Palestinian Mission to the UN had earlier urged member states to stage a collective walkout to signal that no one should be “complicit” in what they described as genocide and war crimes.
Netanyahu responded by denouncing those who left as “moral cowards” and even invited any remaining critics to exit. “If there are any other moral cowards who have not yet left the hall, please do so now,” he said.
Iran strike defended as “one of the easiest decisions”
Netanyahu also defended Israel’s recent strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, describing it as a matter of national survival. “Devastating Iran’s nuclear facilities was hard… But for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make as prime minister,” he said. “Because if we hadn’t done it, we’d all be dead.”
He framed Israel’s actions in the wider region as serving broader security interests, claiming that some leaders privately thank Israel for “taking out Iran’s nukes”.
Domestic politics in the background
The speech came less than a month before crucial Israeli elections, and analysts noted that Netanyahu was addressing both global leaders and domestic voters. While he sought to project strength on the world stage, the walkout underscored the deep international divisions over Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the wider Middle East.
Human rights groups and several UN bodies have described Israel’s Gaza operations as genocide, a characterization that Netanyahu categorically rejected in his remarks.
