in brief
- Benjamin Netanyahu has delivered a blistering defence of his government as isolation and critique grows.
- 77 delegations walked out while his visit was met with protest.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at critics across the globe in a fiery United Nations address that saw 77 delegations leave the hall in New York.
Netanyahu, who is facing a decisive election at home next month, accused those who walked out of "mind-blowing hypocrisy" as he focused much of his speech on his international critics, Iran, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“If there are any moral cowards who haven’t yet left this hall, please do so now,” Netanyahu said in opening his address at the United Nations headquarters.
Israel's decision to go to war with Iran and target its nuclear facilities, which it did in cooperation with the United States on 28 February, was "one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make”.
“If we hadn’t done it, we’d all be dead,” he said.
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“Israel and America acted together not only to protect ourselves, but to save civilisation.”
Continuing his history of using props during his UN addresses, Netanyahu held up a pager while referencing Israel's 2024 operations against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon: "You remember the beepers"? Remember these things?"
Global leaders have been gathering in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly this week.
On Thursday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas delivered impassioned speeches, the latter of which was via video as the US denied his visa.
Netanyahu will spend less than 24 hours in the US, with no official plans to meet with President Donald Trump or Republican leaders. His speech was delayed due to chanting in support of Palestine.
Since the outbreak of the conflict, the Gaza Ministry of Health reports at least 74,000 Palestinians have been killed, while 175,000 have been injured. Over 1,400 fatalities have occurred since the October 2025 ceasefire agreement was enacted.
Accusations of genocide
During his roughly 40-minute address, Netanyahu staunchly defended the Israeli army as the "most moral in the world," which he said has been engaged in defending the territory since 7 October 2023.
A wide range of human rights organisations and international bodies — including multiple UN bodies — describe Israel's military operations in Gaza as a genocide, which Netanyahu called "the greatest lie of the century."
"We’ve taken innumerable steps to protect the civilian population," Netanyahu said. “Is this genocide? Of course not. It’s the opposite of genocide."
He also addressed rising settler violence in the West Bank, which he dismissed as the behaviour of a small number of teenage "delinquents".
"I won’t stand for it. We’re a country of law," he said, describing Israeli's in the West Bank as "peaceful settlers — honest people — law-abiding people".
European nations — particularly France and the United Kingdom — came under fire as they "refuse to defend freedom," Netanyahu claimed.
The UK and several European allies announced plans earlier this month to ban goods produced in West Bank settlements, which have been ruled illegal under international law.
Mamdani singled out
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani was targeted specifically during the speech, with Netanyahu accusing him of trying to "silence the truth."
"To all those spreading lies about my country and its brave soldiers, whether they sit in this hall, or in the antisemitic office of the mayor of New York, I say this: Shame on you," Netanyahu said.
"Shame on you for distorting the facts. Shame on you for inverting victim and aggressor. Shame on you for spitting in the face of truth."
The Democratic leader sworn in at the start of the year had promised to enforce the International Criminal Court's war crimes arrest warrant for Netanyahu if he stepped foot in New York.
However, he has since acknowledged his city does not have the authority to do so but has said the right to protest Netanyahu's visit would be protected.
"Shame on you, Mr Mamdani … for supporting the Hamas terrorist monsters who butchered our people," Netanyahu said.
"Since you were elected mayor of this city, many Jews no longer feel safe in New York."
Mamdani has described Netanyahu as a "war criminal" and "the architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians".
Protests and walkouts
This is the second Israeli leader's visit to the United States this year and saw some of the most widespread and intense demonstrations of the summit.
Thousands of protesters gathered on the streets surrounding the UN headquarters, including those from prominent Jewish groups and orthodox religious movements who reject Netanyahu's claims to speak for all Jewish people.
Actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder were reportedly among a number of people detained by police in New York during demonstrations against Netanyahu.
The Israeli leader claimed demonstrators were "phony human rights protesters".
"To the protesters outside, to the hypocritical delegates who left us all, I ask: Where were you when the Iranian tyrants butchered and maimed tens of thousands of Iranian civilians? When they butchered and maimed thousands of their own people?" he said.
Netanyahu claimed that many of the leaders of nations who exited the hall in protest had thanked him in private for destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities.
"It’s hard to imagine more mind-blowing hypocrisy. But that is what it is."
Prior to the address, the Israeli government paid for 500 pro-Israel billboards across Manhattan claiming "freedom doesn't defend itself".
The Israeli army is fighting a war on seven fronts, Netanyahu claimed, with the "eighth front" being the battle online.
"It’s the war for truth. It is waged in the world’s media, and most perniciously, in social media," he said.
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