Delegates walk out of Netanyahu’s UN speech

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu passionately defended his nation's military actions across the Middle East during a speech before the United Nations General Assembly. Upon entering the auditorium, dozens of delegates walked out in protest, but Netanyahu defiantly declared, "We're going to win. We have no other choice." In response to their absence, he remarked, "If there are any other moral cowards who haven't left the hall, please do so now."

The Israeli leader dismissed allegations of committing genocide in Gaza, stating: "Palestinians are being subjected to killing, destruction, starvation, displacement, and a genocidal war." This assertion came hours after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made a similar claim during a video link from Gaza, which he could not attend due to the US denying him an entry visa.

Netanyahu, currently under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, vehemently attacked nations and leaders who opposed his actions. He accused people in Britain and France of inventing the term "colonialism" while criticizing Israel, and labeled Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a "tyrant," accusing him of backing the militant group Hamas.

New York City's left-wing mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who had vowed to arrest Netanyahu, was also criticized by the Israeli prime minister, who claimed that many Jews no longer felt safe in the city.

In his speech, Netanyahu praised US President Donald Trump's "bold leadership," referring to the joint air strikes against Iran in February. He claimed that Israel and America acted together to protect themselves and "save civilization." Protests against Netanyahu's visit resulted in the arrest of several individuals, including Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon and Emmy-winning actress Hannah Einbinder.

Israel's military offensive in Gaza, following a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has resulted in over 73,920 deaths according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The International Association of Genocide Scholars has declared that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide, a claim Israel denies. On February 28, 2024, Israel and the US initiated extensive air strikes on Iran, suspecting it of secretly developing a nuclear weapon, a claim Iran vehemently denies.