Netanyahu rebukes critics at UN as dozens of delegates walk out

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his country’s military actions and rebuked its critics at the UN General Assembly in New York on 24 September 2026, as dozens of delegates walked out of his address. [5] [6]

The Palestinian Mission had urged delegations to join the protest, saying it would signal opposition to what it called genocide, war crimes and illegal occupation. Israel rejects those allegations. The mission’s appeal does not establish the reasons of every delegate who left. [5] [6]

Netanyahu challenged any remaining “moral cowards” to leave the hall. AP reported cheers and boos as he approached the rostrum, while AFP said his own team stood and applauded. The reports establish a substantial walkout but provide no verified count of participating countries. [5] [6]

Presenting Israel’s military struggle as unavoidable, Netanyahu predicted further victories. “We will continue to win because we have no other choice,” he said, according to AP. [5]

He also invoked Britain’s and France’s colonial histories while rejecting accusations of colonialism against Israel, The Times of Israel reported. That account does not independently establish the wording or official status of the accusations he was answering. [7]

Praise for Trump and claims about Iran

Netanyahu thanked US President Donald Trump for action against Iran. He also claimed that unnamed foreign leaders had privately thanked Israel for “taking out Iran’s nukes”, according to AP. His wording does not establish that Iran possessed nuclear weapons or that its nuclear capacity had been eliminated. [5]