77 Countries Walk Out as Netanyahu Vows to 'Finish the Job' in Gaza at UN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday to a hall that had emptied out just minutes before he took the podium. Representatives from 77 countries, including nearly all Arab and Muslim nations along with several African and European delegations, left their seats shortly before his remarks began, in one of the more visible diplomatic snubs of this year's General Assembly session.

A speech to an emptying chamber

Footage from the assembly floor showed rows of empty seats as Netanyahu began speaking, with only a limited number of delegations remaining in the hall alongside protesters who could be heard chanting outside. Israeli media covered the walkout extensively, with domestic outlets describing it in starkly different terms: one Israeli news channel called it "a spit in Israel's face," while another labelled it a "dramatic protest." Coverage in several international outlets framed the moment as evidence of Israel's deepening isolation on the world stage, three years into the war in Gaza.

What Netanyahu said

In his address, Netanyahu maintained that Israel's military campaign in Gaza was not yet complete, telling the assembly that Israeli forces "must finish the job" against Hamas. He also took direct aim at the wave of countries that have moved to recognise a Palestinian state in recent months, calling such recognition "disgraceful" and arguing it rewarded the October 7 attacks rather than addressing their cause.

Beyond the diplomats in the room, Netanyahu directed part of his speech at a different audience altogether. He read out a message first in Hebrew and then in English addressed to roughly 20 hostages Israel believes remain alive in Gaza, a moment that underscored how much of his remarks were aimed at domestic political constituencies and the Israeli public rather than the assembled world leaders.

Security and protests around the UN

Netanyahu's appearance came amid one of the largest security operations New York City has mounted for a UN General Assembly session, with the NYPD and US Secret Service locking down large parts of Midtown Manhattan around UN headquarters. Streets including First Avenue and several cross streets in the 40s were closed for the week, and the city declared a "Gridlock Alert Day" to manage the disruption from nearly 200 visiting heads of state and government attending the broader session.

Outside the UN building, demonstrators gathered near Times Square calling for an end to the war in Gaza, one of several protests planned around the Israeli leader's visit, alongside counter-demonstrations from Israeli advocacy groups.

The wider context

Netanyahu's speech landed on the same day that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was also scheduled to address the General Assembly, as part of a broader debate this week in which the war in Gaza and the question of Palestinian statehood have dominated proceedings. His remarks followed sharper exchanges earlier in the week between US President Donald Trump and Iranian officials over Tehran's nuclear programme, developments that have added to a tense backdrop for this year's session.

The scale of Thursday's walkout, one of the largest coordinated departures at a Netanyahu UN appearance in recent years, is likely to be read in capitals around the world as a signal of how far international opinion has shifted on Israel's conduct of the war, even as the Israeli government shows no sign of altering its approach in Gaza.

This is an original summary based on public reporting. See our editorial policy for how we source, write, and correct our stories.