Delegates Stage Walkout As Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Addresses UN Assembly

Delegates Stage Walkout As Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Addresses UN Assembly

The Israeli leader, who is under an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and genocide in Gaza, pressed ahead with his address to the 80th session of the UNGA amid the visible boycott.

Adramatic scene unfolded at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday as several delegates walked out in protest when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stepped up to the podium.

The Israeli leader, who is under an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and genocide in Gaza, pressed ahead with his address to the 80th session of the UNGA amid the visible boycott.

The walkout underscored deep divisions within the international community over Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, which has entered its eleventh month.

Since October 2023, Israeli forces have conducted an extensive military campaign in the enclave following Hamas’ surprise attacks that killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israel.

Gaza’s health ministry reports that over 40,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed, with widespread destruction of homes, schools, hospitals, and vital infrastructure.

Netanyahu has consistently defended Israel’s actions as necessary for “eradicating Hamas” and ensuring Israel’s security.

However, critics argue that the disproportionate use of force amounts to collective punishment of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.

Humanitarian agencies, including the UN, have warned of famine, mass displacement, and catastrophic civilian suffering.

In May 2025, the ICC issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing “reasonable grounds” to believe they bore responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the use of starvation as a weapon of war, targeting civilians, and disproportionate attacks.

The ruling, issued by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, marked the first time the court had targeted a sitting Israeli head of government, drawing sharp reactions.

Israel, which is not a party to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC, rejected the ruling outright.

Netanyahu dismissed the charges as “an outrageous distortion of justice” and accused the court of antisemitism.

The United States, Israel’s closest ally, also condemned the decision, arguing it undermined Israel’s right to self-defense, although several European and Global South nations welcomed the warrants as a step toward accountability.

The protest at UNGA on Friday mirrored this divide. Diplomats from several Arab, African, and Latin American states exited the hall as Netanyahu began to speak, while representatives of the United States and a handful of European allies remained seated.

No official list of participants in the walkout was immediately available but videos making the rounds on social media platforms including on Al Jazeera’s X (formerly Twitter) account, showed many of the delegates walk away from the hall immediately after Netanyahu’s name was announced.

Observers say the highly visible boycott highlighted Israel’s growing diplomatic isolation on the world stage.

The symbolism is powerful, a number of nations are not willing to normalise Netanyahu’s presence while he is under ICC indictment.

However, despite the protest, Netanyahu delivered his speech uninterrupted, as the moderator pleaded for calm in the hall

Delegates walk out in protest as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu – who has an ICC arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes in Gaza – arrived at the podium to address the #UNGA80 assembly. pic.twitter.com/1oXNP14wPk

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 26, 2025

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