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Multiple nations stage walkout during Netanyahu's UN General Assembly address

Several countries departed from the United Nations General Assembly chamber during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech, marking a significant diplomatic protest. The walkouts underscore deep divisions within the international community over Israeli policies.

LSN World News · 25 September 2026

Multiple nations stage walkout during Netanyahu's UN General Assembly address

Multiple delegations walked out of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his address to world leaders. The departures reflected longstanding tensions and disagreements over Israel's military operations and treatment of Palestinians.

The walkouts demonstrated the contentious nature of Netanyahu's appearance at the annual gathering, where Israeli policies have become an increasingly divisive issue among UN member states. Several nations chose the symbolic gesture of leaving the chamber rather than remaining present for the prime minister's remarks.

The coordinated departures highlight the fractured consensus at the world body regarding Middle Eastern affairs. While some nations maintain strong diplomatic ties with Israel, others have grown increasingly critical of Israeli actions and have sought to use UN platforms to register their opposition.

The incident reflects broader geopolitical divisions that have intensified in recent years, with developing nations and some Western countries taking more critical stances toward Israeli government policies during international forums. The General Assembly has become an arena where such disagreements regularly play out through procedural actions and symbolic gestures.