Netanyahu delivers defiant address at UN General Assembly amid mass delegate walkout and protests
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday as dozens of delegates walked out of the chamber and protesters gathered outside the building. Netanyahu called the departing delegates "moral cowards" and defended Israel's joint military strike with the United States on Iran's nuclear facilities. He also called genocide allegations against Israel "the biggest lie of the century."
Two sources · Thin corroboration
As Netanyahu took the stage, delegates from multiple countries streamed out of the chamber. Before beginning his prepared remarks, Netanyahu said, "If there are any other moral cowards who haven't yet left this hall, please do so now," drawing cheers from the delegates who remained.
Netanyahu framed Israel's seven-front conflict — against Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iran, militias in Iraq, militias in Syria, and Palestinian fighters in the West Bank — as a fight for survival both for Israel and, he argued, for the broader international community. He said that destroying Iran's nuclear facilities was "one of the easiest decisions I've ever had to make as prime minister," adding, "if we hadn't done it, we'd all be dead." He thanked President Donald Trump and said the two nations had acted "not only to protect ourselves, but to save civilization."
Demonstrators rallied outside the UN building, including Hollywood figures Susan Sarandon and, according to NPR, actress Hannah Einbinder, who were detained during the protest. Fox News noted Elliot Page also participated. Inside the hall, Netanyahu directed criticism at what he called "phony human rights protesters," asking why those same voices had not rallied when Iranian security forces killed thousands of demonstrators.