A large number of diplomats walked out of the UN General Assembly on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address. The walkout came amid protests over his visit to New York and growing international criticism of Israel’s policies in the occupied West Bank.

As delegates left the hall, some who remained stood and applauded. Others chanted “Am Yisrael Chai”, meaning “The People of Israel live”. Netanyahu immediately criticised those leaving. “If there are any other moral cowards who haven't yet left this hall, please do so now,” he said.

Netanyahu claimed some countries whose representatives walked out had privately thanked Israel for its military action against Iran. “Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall,” he said. “In fact, I want you to know that many of their leaders even thanked us privately for taking out Iran's nukes. It's hard to imagine more mind-blowing hypocrisy, but that's exactly what it is,” he added.

Defending Israeli and US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Netanyahu said the decision was difficult but necessary. “Devastating Iran's nuclear facilities was hard. It was very hard to do. But for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I've ever had to make as prime minister, because if we hadn't done it, we'd all be dead,” Netanyahu said. The remarks referred to strikes carried out during the conflict, including Israel’s military action during the 12-Day War in June 2025.

Netanyahu also criticised Britain and France for accusing Israel of “colonialism”. “Britain and France accuse Israel of 'colonialism'! For God's sake, THEY invented the term. Give us a break,” he said.

Iranian representatives did not attend Netanyahu’s speech. They left their seats empty with a picture of former Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani. Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport on January 3, 2020, on orders from then-US President Donald Trump.

Netanyahu also targeted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa over the Golan Heights. Referring to the 1967 war, he said Israel had faced countries seeking its destruction. “Mr Sharaa, you should know that Jews have been on the Golan Heights since the days of Moses. You can read it in the Bible,” he said. Sharaa had claimed the territory as Syrian land during his UN speech on Wednesday. Trump recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019.

Recalling Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah, Netanyahu displayed a pager at the podium and referred to the 2024 explosions targeting Hezbollah members. “We pummeled Hezbollah,” Netanyahu said. “You remember the beepers? Remember these things.” He later claimed Hezbollah’s leaders were “dead” and its arsenal of 150,000 ballistic missiles and rockets had been destroyed.

Netanyahu thanked Trump for supporting Israel against Iran. “We've had no greater partner than President Trump. I thank him. I thank him for his bold leadership. He boldly confronted an enormous danger to America, Israel and the world decades ago,” he said. He also accused Qatar and Turkey of spreading what he called “lies” about Israel.

Netanyahu said Qatar had funded universities and media outlets to influence young people against Israel, America and the West. He accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of being a “super spreader of anti-semitic lies” and criticised Turkey over Syria, Cyprus, Greece, Kurdish civilians, journalists and opposition leaders.