Walkout greets Netanyahu at UNGA

Dozens of delegates walked out of the UN General Assembly Hall on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the podium to begin his address at the 81st session, underscoring the growing diplomatic tensions surrounding Israel's war in Gaza and the wider Middle East conflict.

Video from the assembly showed large numbers of delegates leaving their seats as Netanyahu prepared to speak. The incident followed a series of walkouts during the UN General Assembly's high-level debate this week involving Cuba, Iran and others.

Dozens of envoys from across the world left the General Assembly Hall, some jeering and booing, while Netanyahu's own team stood and the speaker of the session called for order. Netanyahu responded by criticising the departing envoys.

Locked in a tight race to stay in power in the October 27 elections, Netanyahu used the global platform at the UN General Assembly to attack everyone from the leaders of Iran to New York's first Muslim mayor, as well as partners Britain, France and Turkey.

In his 40-minute speech, he attacked Zohran Mamdani, who has called him a war criminal and previously said he would seek to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant if legally able to do so.

Mamdani rejected Netanyahu's allegations and accused him of repeating claims intended to justify Israel's conduct in Gaza. Netanyahu also criticised Western governments, particularly Britain and France, which have imposed sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

He also accused Qatar and Turkey of spreading falsehoods. He devoted particular attention to Iran, saying that its leadership would eventually be toppled by its own people.

The speech came amid protests outside the UN headquarters, where several hundred demonstrators gathered, chanting slogans including "Stop arming Israel, let Gaza live". Police detained several protesters, including actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder.

Netanyahu's appearance also highlighted Israel's growing diplomatic isolation. The prime minister faces restrictions on travel to several countries following an ICC arrest warrant issued in 2024 alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity.