Dozens of delegates left the United Nations hall as soon as Netanyahu appeared

(Patria) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the first speaker of the day at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, but his address took place in a rare atmosphere.

As soon as he stepped up to the podium, about a hundred delegates from various countries stood up and left the hall in protest against Israeli policy in the Gaza Strip.

Although Israeli diplomats and some of the audience tried to cover it up with loud applause and standing ovations, the empty seats were clearly visible. UN officials repeatedly called for order as a commotion broke out in the hall, and shouts of disapproval and whistles could be heard from the gallery.

The American delegation remained in their seats, while the Palestinian mission had previously called on countries to leave the session in a coordinated manner as soon as Netanyahu began to speak.

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

The scenes outside the UN building were equally tense. Families of Israeli hostages gathered there, demanding a deal for their release, while opponents of the Israeli offensive carried banners and called for an end to the war.

At the very beginning of his address, Netanyahu said that Israel "must finish the job against Hamas in Gaza." After that, he addressed Hamas directly.

He said in a raised voice: "Lay down your arms. Release my people. Release the hostages. All of them, all 48. If you do - you will live. If not, Israel will hunt you down."

He added that he was addressing the hostages directly for the first time, hoping they would hear him through the loudspeakers set up along the Gaza border. The Israeli army confirmed that it had deployed nine public address systems as part of an influence campaign, but residents in northern Gaza and in Deir al-Balah told Reuters they heard no speeches, only explosions.

Netanyahu dedicated a large part of his speech to defending the Israeli military campaign and rejecting accusations of genocide.

🔴 Netanyahu more isolated than ever

As Netanyahu entered the UN hall to deliver his speech, almost all representatives of various countries walked out in protest.#UNGA80 #Netanyahu #UnitedNations #Israel #BreakingNews #BREAKING https://t.co/45G63Ji3QY pic.twitter.com/on51OIK7Lj

— Raaz News - En (@raaznewsen) September 26, 2025

- The accusation of genocide is false. It is said that Israel deliberately targets civilians. Ladies and gentlemen, the truth is the opposite - Netanyahu stated.

He was reacting to the findings of the UN Commission of Inquiry, which last week announced that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, which Israel called biased and unfounded.

According to data from health authorities in Gaza, more than 65,000 people have been killed in nearly two years of Israeli offensive, and Gaza City and surrounding areas have been officially declared a famine zone.

Netanyahu also spoke about food shortages, claiming that hunger is not a consequence of Israeli policy but of Hamas's actions.

- It is said that Israel deliberately starves people in Gaza, while Israel actually feeds them. If there are Gazans who do not have enough food, it is because Hamas is stealing it, hoarding it, and reselling it at high prices - Netanyahu claimed.

Hamas had previously rejected such accusations.

Grande Netanyahu!

— Frank Pentangeli (@PuminMuoz) September 26, 2025

In his speech, the Israeli Prime Minister repeatedly mentioned US President Donald Trump, thanking him for his actions against Iran.

- I want to thank President Trump for his brave and decisive action. We have removed an existential threat to Israel and a deadly threat to the civilized world - Netanyahu said, claiming that Israeli and American actions had devastated Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

He also listed Israel's military successes in the past year, stating that the Israeli army had destroyed Hamas infrastructure, weakened Hezbollah, and struck the top commanders of Iran and its allies in the region.

To further enhance the impact of his speech, Netanyahu used posters and maps, crossed out the names of Israel's opponents, and distributed "quiz questions" to the audience about who shouts "Death to America".

At one point, he attached a QR code to his jacket, and earlier he showed a map of the Middle East at the podium marked with the word "curse," claiming it was Iran's "axis of terror."



Today's appearance by the Israeli Prime Minister was also a political message to the international community and the domestic audience.

Netanyahu again promised that the war would last until Hamas was destroyed as a military and political force in Gaza. However, his appearance at the UN also caused enormous revolt and a mass departure from the hall as his address began.