Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a contentious address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, amid heightened international tensions over Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza and expanding violence in the West Bank. The speech, which coincided with protests outside the UN headquarters, drew sharp reactions from delegates and underscored Netanyahu’s increasingly isolated position on the world stage ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections.
The UN session witnessed a coordinated walkout by dozens of delegates as Netanyahu took the podium, an action encouraged by the Palestinian Mission to the UN. Palestinian representatives called on member states to fill the assembly hall only to exit in unison, signaling opposition to Israel’s military operations and accusing it of committing war crimes and engaging in illegal occupation. In response, Netanyahu criticized the walkout participants as “moral cowards” and asserted that Israel’s defense efforts also protect many of the countries whose representatives had left the hall.
Netanyahu’s remarks touched on a range of topics, including the February joint Israeli-US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which he described as “one of the easiest decisions” of his premiership due to the existential threat posed by Iran. He framed Iran as a principal danger to global security, warning that missiles from Tehran could have targeted the UN itself. The prime minister also attacked international media outlets, regional figures such as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—whom he labeled a “tyrant” hosting Hamas—and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whom he described as “antisemitic.” Netanyahu maintained that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza was not genocide, countering accusations made by critics and international observers.
The speech closely followed a video address by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who condemned Israeli policies as part of a “malicious colonial plan” to establish a “Greater Israel” and erase Palestinian presence. Abbas highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and their threat to Palestinian existence. His delegation, however, was excluded from attending the assembly in person after the United States denied them visas, citing unresolved Palestinian commitments to peace and ongoing actions that undermine peace prospects. The Palestinian Authority called the visa denials unlawful and inconsistent with the US’s obligations as the UN host nation.
Netanyahu’s visit to New York included meetings with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša but did not involve scheduled discussions with US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, or Arab leaders. His office attributed the limited engagements to a tight schedule related to the imminent Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
Outside the United Nations, protests erupted with hundreds of demonstrators rallying against the Israeli military operations. The gatherings, which featured local elected officials among participants, led to more than 100 arrests by the time Netanyahu’s address concluded.
The events at the UN and on the streets of New York highlighted the deep divisions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reflecting both the geopolitical complexities and the resonant domestic pressures facing Netanyahu as he confronts electoral challenges and sustained international criticism.