An Israeli review tallied 77 delegations that were either absent from the hall or exited as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address to the United Nations General Assembly. The list compiled by officials and published by Ynet News included Kuwait along with Egypt Jordan Saudi Arabia Turkey Iran Spain Brazil South Africa and nations from Latin America Africa and the Pacific. Israeli authorities noted that while some absences reflected protests against Israeli policies in Gaza and the region others simply did not attend the opening segment of that day’s proceedings.
As Netanyahu took the podium dozens of delegates left the chamber prompting repeated calls for order from the General Assembly president. The Israeli leader responded by inviting any remaining “moral cowards” to depart as well according to a BBC News account of the session. He received applause from supporters in the balcony even as boos echoed and seats emptied across the main floor.
Netanyahu used the 41-minute speech to defend Israel’s military operations against Hamas Hezbollah and Iranian targets while dismissing genocide accusations related to Gaza as falsehoods. He described Palestinian state recognition by countries including France and the United Kingdom as disgraceful and sheer madness. Coverage by The Media Line and other outlets placed the remarks in the context of recent Israeli strikes on Iran and ongoing regional tensions.
Kuwait has maintained its longstanding stance on Palestinian issues throughout the 81st session. In an address earlier that week Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled told the assembly that his country condemned violations by Israeli occupation forces and called for full implementation of Security Council resolutions on Gaza. The United Nations recorded the crown prince’s remarks which also welcomed sanctions by several nations against violent settlers and stressed that Gaza remains integral to occupied Palestinian territory.
The Palestinian Mission to the United Nations encouraged the coordinated departures before Netanyahu spoke Irish Times reporting confirmed. Delegations from countries that maintain or have restored ties with Israel such as Colombia still participated in the walkout or absence. Reuters images and video from the hall documented empty seats belonging to representatives from Algeria Bangladesh Malaysia and several African and Asian states.
This collective exit ranks among the more noticeable demonstrations during a leader’s UN address in recent years multiple wire services observed. Israeli officials framed the episode as highlighting diplomatic difficulties amid the Gaza conflict and broader Iranian threats. The General Assembly session operates under the theme of advancing peace development and human rights through the United Nations’ 81st year.
