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Dozens of delegates walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium to deliver his address on Thursday, in a protest over Israel’s actions in Gaza and the Palestinian territories.
The walkout came shortly after Netanyahu was announced to speak at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Video footage showed representatives leaving their seats as he approached the podium, while members of the Israeli delegation chanted in support of the prime minister.
The Palestinian Mission to the UN had reportedly urged delegations to leave the hall collectively when Netanyahu began his address.
Netanyahu responded to the departing delegates by calling them “moral cowards” and challenged others to leave as well.
He defended Israel’s military actions in Gaza and its strikes against Iran, rejecting allegations that Israel had committed genocide.
Reports differed on the exact number of delegations involved, with some outlets describing the departure as involving dozens and others reporting that 77 delegations were absent during his speech.
The walkout came amid continued international criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and its policies in the occupied Palestinian territories.