A dramatic scene unfolded at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday when hundreds of diplomats from various countries staged a coordinated walkout just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered the hall to deliver his address.
Despite the mass exit, Netanyahu’s supporters inside the chamber sought to counter the protest by rising to their feet and applauding loudly for several minutes.
Among those accompanying the Israeli leader in the side gallery were his wife, Sara Netanyahu, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
The walkout came amid heightened tensions over Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and mounting criticism of Netanyahu’s policies.
In a related development, the Israel Defense Forces, IDF, confirmed that it had been instructed by the Prime Minister’s Office to broadcast Netanyahu’s UN speech directly into the Gaza Strip.
Military officials said nine loudspeaker systems were deployed as part of what they described as an “influence campaign” aimed at swaying Palestinian civilians and pressuring Hamas amid stalled hostage negotiations.
According to the IDF, the loudspeakers were mounted on trucks and cranes positioned along the Israeli side of the border and inside military encampments within Gaza.
While Netanyahu’s office claimed the broadcasts would remain outside the Strip to avoid risking soldiers’ lives, the military acknowledged that some equipment had entered Gaza territory.
It remains unclear whether the IDF exceeded the prime minister’s instructions or whether the initial statement from his office was inaccurate.
The move to beam the speech into Gaza underscores Israel’s efforts to shape public sentiment and diplomatic leverage as the conflict continues.
UNGA: Hundreds of diplomats walk out as Netanyahu delivers speech
