At the 81st United Nations General Assembly on 24 September 2026, many delegations left the hall as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached the podium. The scene was familiar from earlier years. Delegates walked out in protest at Israel’s actions, especially in Gaza.
Netanyahu spoke anyway. Before the main speech he said that if any other “moral cowards” had not left yet, they should go now.
“If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t yet left this hall, please do so now.”
The General Assembly president had to call for order as the room mixed applause, boos, and empty seats.
In the speech Netanyahu defended Israel’s campaigns in Gaza, Iran, and the wider region. He said Israel was also defending some of the countries whose envoys had just walked out. Reports say he also attacked some NATO members and New York’s mayor.
Who was writing names?
During the walkout, an Israeli official was seen checking empty seats and noting which countries had left or stayed away.
The UN does not keep an official walkout list. Lists circulating afterward came in part from the Israeli side and mixed countries that left with countries that never sat down. Different outlets named different sets of states. Some reports put the figure near 70 delegations that walked out or left seats vacant.
It is not clear what Israel will do with those names. Note-taking can be routine diplomatic tracking. It does not by itself mean sanctions or a formal blacklist.
Both sides held their line
Those who left framed the walkout as a protest over Gaza.
Israel framed it as empty human-rights theater and said some governments thank Israel in private for strikes on Iran’s nuclear program.
The United States and several European countries kept representatives in the hall.
A walkout does not change policy overnight. It does show how deep the split at the UN over Israel remains.
Sources: Irish Times, Anadolu, UNGA 2026 reporting