Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered one of his most defiant speeches at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, only to find himself speaking to rows of empty seats as delegates staged a mass walkout. Outside, thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Manhattan, condemning his presence and denouncing the war in Gaza.
Calling Western recognition of a Palestinian state a &ldquo;disgraceful decision,&rdquo; Netanyahu warned, &ldquo;It will be a mark of shame on all of you. Your decision will encourage terrorism against Jews, and against innocent people everywhere.&rdquo;
Facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, Netanyahu struck a defiant tone. Despite rising calls for ceasefire, he vowed that Israel &ldquo;must finish the job&rdquo; in Gaza after the Hamas-led October 2023 attacks, insisting, &ldquo;Western leaders may have buckled under pressure. Israel won&rsquo;t.&rdquo;
He directed a message at Hamas, claiming his words were broadcast into Gaza via loudspeakers and cellphones: &ldquo;Lay down your weapons and release the captives, or you will die. We have not forgotten you, not even for a second.&rdquo;
Critics at home and abroad accused him of prolonging the war for political survival. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid dismissed the UN address as &ldquo;tired and whining, filled with gimmicks but no peace plan.&rdquo; Gaza&rsquo;s administration accused Netanyahu of spreading &ldquo;eight major lies&rdquo; to justify genocide.
Holding up a map he called &ldquo;The Curse&rdquo;, Netanyahu listed the &ldquo;seven-front war&rdquo; Israel has fought since 2023, naming Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and militias in Iraq. While lashing out at European allies, he praised the United States for being Israel&rsquo;s steadfast defender. &ldquo;You know deep down Israel is fighting your fight,&rdquo; he told Western leaders, claiming they secretly thank him for his country&rsquo;s role.
Inside Gaza, where more than 65,000 people have been killed since the war began, famine and destruction have fueled accusations of genocide. Netanyahu denied those charges, arguing Israel&rsquo;s army warned civilians to evacuate. He blamed Hamas for aid shortages, despite US reports dismissing claims of systematic looting.
As Netanyahu left the UNGA, the gulf between Israel and the world appeared wider than ever, with chants outside echoing the sentiment inside: he is no longer welcome.

Israel PM faces global backlash at UNGA, delegates walk out as he defends Gaza war

Netanyahu Faces UN Walkout Over Gaza War

Israel PM faces global backlash at UNGA, delegates walk out as he defends Gaza war

September 27, 2025 | 22:11 IST