Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a confrontational address at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, sharply criticizing both adversaries and traditional allies amid a heated reelection campaign ahead of elections scheduled for October 27. His speech provoked a strong reaction in the chamber, with dozens of diplomats leaving the hall and others responding with jeers and boos.

Netanyahu used the global stage in New York to lash out at a range of figures, including the leadership of Iran, the United Kingdom, France, Turkey, and New York City’s first Muslim mayor, Zokhran Mamdani. At one point, he challenged diplomats who chose to walk out, urging them to leave if they considered themselves “moral cowards.”

A notable moment in the speech was Netanyahu’s criticism of Mamdani, whom he accused of creating an unsafe environment for Jewish residents since taking office. Mamdani had previously threatened to enforce an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Netanyahu, though he later acknowledged lacking the authority to do so. The ICC determined in 2024 that there were reasonable grounds to suspect Netanyahu of responsibility for war crimes related to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which followed attacks by the Palestinian group Hamas on October 7, 2023. Netanyahu has consistently denied these allegations.

Netanyahu also directed sharp rebukes at Britain and France, two countries that have historically been close partners of Israel but have grown more critical in recent years. He accused them of hypocrisy for criticizing Israel over alleged colonial practices, pointing out those nations’ own colonial histories. “They accuse Israel, tiny Israel, of colonialism—some colonialism. And who’s accusing us? Among them are people in Britain and in France. For God’s sakes, they invented the term,” he remarked.

The speech intensified already strained ties between Israel and some members of the international community, highlighting the deep divisions as Netanyahu seeks to consolidate support ahead of elections that will determine Israel’s political direction in the coming years. The passionate and provocative tone of the address underscored the stakes for Netanyahu, who faces both domestic political challenges and growing diplomatic pressures on the world stage.