Netanyahu Defends Israel at UN as Delegates Walk Out in Protest
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a forceful defense of Israel's actions at the United Nations on Thursday, September 24, as dozens of delegates walked out in protest, highlighting the growing international isolation he faces ahead of elections he could lose.
The walkout underscored the competing pressures on Netanyahu, who is battling mounting criticism abroad over the Gaza war while campaigning for reelection at home before an October 27 vote.
What happened during Netanyahu's UN speech?
As Netanyahu began speaking, dozens of delegates streamed out in protest. He called them “moral cowards,” while supporters in the gallery chanted in Hebrew: “The people of Israel live.”
Netanyahu used his address to berate New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani for calling him a war criminal, criticize Western European leaders for what he called succumbing to “antisemitic mobs,” and accuse both Qatar and Turkey of spreading lies about Israel.
“You tried to stop me from coming here. You tried. You tried to silence me. Well, you can't silence me. You can't silence the truth,” Netanyahu said of Mamdani.
Mamdani campaigned for office on a promise to have Netanyahu arrested for alleged war crimes should he visit the largest US city, but later said he lacked the legal authority to do so. This week, Mamdani described Netanyahu as “the architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians.”
Making his first visit to New York since Mamdani took office in January, Netanyahu said: “Here's a simple truth: Israel didn't commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide.”
He accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas militants, something Mamdani has denied.
“To all those spreading these lies about my country and about our brave soldiers, whether they sit in this hall or in the office of the antisemitic mayor of New York, I say this: Shame on you!” Netanyahu said.
In a statement, Mamdani said: “As he has done time and again, Prime Minister Netanyahu used his speech to repeat baseless lies meant to sanitize his genocide of Palestinians. Yet no lie can change the fact that he remains the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
Qatar also rejected the accusation that it was seeking to turn public opinion against Israel, with its foreign ministry spokesperson saying on X that Netanyahu's repeated attacks on Doha sought to divert attention from responsibility for policies on the ground.
Why is Netanyahu's political future on the line?
With general elections less than five weeks away, Netanyahu spoke for about 40 minutes in what amounted to a campaign-style speech, broadcast live in evening prime time on all four of the main Israeli television channels.
Ahead of his speech, Netanyahu's government paid to place 500 pro-Israel and anti-Iran billboards and dozens of trucks carrying messages in support of Israel across Manhattan, his office said in a statement.
With opinion polls showing Netanyahu's bloc trailing rivals ahead of the election, he used the speech to showcase what he described as Israel's fight on seven fronts, including the war with Iran that began with joint US-Israeli strikes in late February.
As in past UN appearances, Netanyahu used props, holding up a pager linked to an attack that killed and wounded Iran-backed Hezbollah members in Lebanon and a Starlink satellite internet receiver he said he would leave for the Iranian delegation.
“So when they inevitably defect, they too will be able to freely tell their story on social media,” he said, adding that it was only a matter of time before the Iranian authorities would be toppled by the people.
What happened at street protests in New York?
Several hundred protesters gathered near the United Nations, with dozens blocking traffic and chanting, “Stop arming Israel, let Gaza live” and “Stop arming Israel, let Iran live.” Police detained them.
Netanyahu was making a short visit to the US for his UN address and, unusually, without a planned meeting with US President Donald Trump, whom he praised during his speech.
“We will continue to defend our state. We will continue to win because we have no other choice. In this battle against the barbarians, we've had no greater partner than President Trump. I thank him. I thank him for his bold leadership,” he said.
How deep is Israel's diplomatic isolation?
Israel has faced deepening diplomatic isolation since launching its war in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attacks on Israel nearly three years ago.
Netanyahu is unable to travel to many countries because of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued against him and his then-defense minister as well as the then-military commander of Hamas in 2024.
Earlier this month, once-steadfast allies Britain, France and Canada announced sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which drew a muted response from Washington.
“The leaders of these countries have chosen to succumb to the antisemitic mobs. They've chosen weakness. They've chosen appeasement,” Netanyahu said.
He played down worsening violence in the occupied West Bank by Israeli settlers, describing it as “a handful of young juvenile delinquents, about 150 in number, who throw stones, who chop down olive trees.”
“Occasionally ... they lit some fires. I can't stand that. I won't stand for vigilantism. We're a country of law.”
Frequently asked questions about Netanyahu's UN speech
Why did delegates walk out during Netanyahu's speech?
Dozens of delegates walked out in protest over Israel's conduct in the Gaza war, which critics describe as genocide. Netanyahu called them “moral cowards” in response.
What did Netanyahu say about New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani?
Netanyahu berated Mamdani for calling him a war criminal and accused him of supporting Hamas. Mamdani has denied supporting Hamas and reiterated his view that Netanyahu faces an ICC arrest warrant for war crimes.
What is the status of Israel's diplomatic relations?
Israel faces deepening isolation, with Britain, France and Canada recently imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Netanyahu is also unable to travel to many countries due to the ICC arrest warrant.