Israeli Prime Minister Defends Military Actions at United Nations Assembly Amid Mass Diplomatic Walkouts

2026-09-25 global

New York, Thursday, 24 September 2026.
Addressing a largely empty hall after diplomatic walkouts, Prime Minister Netanyahu used controversial props, including a pager, to defend military operations while dismissing exiting delegates as moral cowards.

Diplomatic Walkouts and Rhetorical Escalation

As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium on September 24, 2026, dozens of United Nations delegates walked out of the hall before he began speaking [2]. Addressing the remaining assembly, Netanyahu characterized those who left as “moral cowards” and challenged others who felt similarly to depart as well [2]. The Israeli delegation remained seated and was observed cheering in support during the address [2]. This incident mirrored diplomatic tensions from the previous year, with large-scale street protests occurring alongside the high-stakes speech [3]. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged that city authorities lacked the legal power to execute an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Netanyahu, despite previous campaign pledges to the contrary [3]. Approximately 100 protesters were arrested near the UN headquarters on 39th Street and First Avenue on September 24, 2026, including notable figures such as Susan Sarandon [3]. The protest organized by Jewish Voice for Peace involved approximately 250 attendees demonstrating against the Israeli leader’s presence [3].

Conflict Casualties and Military Context

The Prime Minister defended Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, dismissing accusations of genocide as the “greatest lie of the century” [6]. A UN commission of inquiry had previously accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a claim Israel strongly rejected [2]. According to the territory’s health ministry, more than 73,920 people have been killed in Gaza during Israel’s military campaign [2]. Other Palestinian health officials reported that Israel’s military actions resulted in the deaths of more than 75,000 people [6]. The conflict was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage [2]. During his address, Netanyahu utilized props including a pager to reference 2024 operations against Hezbollah and a Starlink device while addressing Iranian delegates [6]. He stated that Hezbollah certainly remembers the beepers, referencing the communication device explosions used in previous operations [6]. The conflict in Gaza is currently in its fourth year, with reconstruction suspended and infrastructure in ruins despite a U.S.-brokered cease-fire [3].

Political Isolation and International Response

Netanyahu traveled to New York without scheduled meetings with President Donald Trump or other U.S. officials, as the President prioritized a summit with China’s Xi Jinping [6]. Polling data from July 2026 indicated that 62% of U.S. respondents held a negative opinion of Netanyahu’s government [7]. Additionally, a poll released the week of September 21, 2026, showed 60% of American Jews hoped for his removal in the upcoming October 2026 election [7]. International pressure mounted as the UK, France, and Canada planned sanctions against Israeli settlements in the West Bank [7]. On September 23, 2026, Senate Democrats introduced a bill to sanction facilitators of new settlements, co-sponsored by Senator Chris Coons [7]. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas delivered a virtual address to the UN on September 23, 2026, after the Trump administration denied his visa [3]. As of September 23, 2026, 157 of 193 United Nations member states recognize Palestine as an independent state [3]. Netanyahu is expected to return to Israel before the Jewish holiday of Sukkot on Friday, September 25, 2026 [6].

Sources

United Nations Benjamin Netanyahu