Dozens of delegates walked out of the UN General Assembly hall in New York on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his speech, protesting Israel’s military action against Iran.
As several delegations left the venue, Netanyahu moved towards the podium to begin his address. The Palestinian Mission to the UN had urged delegates to leave the hall during Netanyahu’s speech, prompting the walkout.
Reacting to the departure, Netanyahu said, “If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t left the hall, please do so now.”
Netanyahu defended Israel’s military action against Iran, saying Israeli forces faced challenges in targeting the country’s nuclear infrastructure. However, he described the decision to launch the operation as one of the easiest decisions he had made as prime minister.
“Devastating Iran’s nuclear facilities was hard. It was very hard to do,” Netanyahu said.
“But for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make as Prime Minister,” he added.
According to Netanyahu, Israel had to take the action because he believed Israel and other countries would face danger if the country did not destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The Israeli Prime minister also claimed that countries whose representatives had walked out of the General Assembly were benefiting from Israel’s military operation.
“In defending itself, Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu further said some foreign leaders had privately thanked Israel for attacking Iran’s nuclear programme.
“In fact, I want you to know that many of their leaders even thank us privately for taking out Iran’s nukes,” he said.
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Backstory…
The latest tension traces back to the US-Israeli war with Iran, which began with joint strikes in late February 2026. Netanyahu has consistently defended the decision to attack Iran, arguing that Israel faced a threat that required military action.
In his UNGA address on Thursday, he described destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities as one of the easiest decisions he had made as prime minister.
Netanyahu’s appearance at the UN also came as Israel faced increasing diplomatic pressure over the Gaza war.
Several governments, including Britain, France and Canada, had recently taken measures targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, while leaders at the UN used their speeches to criticise Israel’s conduct in Gaza and call for greater international action.
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