UNITED NATIONS — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a mass walkout of delegates at the UN General Assembly on Thursday as he defended Israel’s military operations in Gaza against genocide accusations, an address that also sparked a sharp exchange with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and drew condemnation from Jewish American commentator Dash Dobrofsky.
Delegates Stage Walkout as Netanyahu Takes Podium
Scores of delegates walked out of the General Assembly hall in protest as Netanyahu took the podium to address the 81st session. Representatives from Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian Authority, and other nations cleared out as he began his speech.
Netanyahu denounced the departing delegates as “moral cowards” and used the moment to issue a challenge: “If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t yet left this hall, please do so now”. He also used props including a pager and a Starlink device to reference actions against Hezbollah and Iran, and predicted the Iranian regime’s eventual fall.
Netanyahu Rejects Genocide Allegations
In his address, Netanyahu rejected accusations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, calling such claims “the greatest lie of the century”. He argued that Israel’s actions were aimed at defeating Hamas while protecting civilians, and cited humanitarian efforts as evidence.
“What genocidal regime gives a million polio vaccinations to the enemy’s population? What genocidal regime enables the distribution of two million tons of food into Gaza? That’s a ton for every person”. He also sought to downplay settler violence in the West Bank, referring to it as the work of a handful of “juvenile delinquents”.
Heated Exchange with NYC Mayor Mamdani
Netanyahu directed significant criticism at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of fostering an environment where Jewish residents no longer feel safe. “Mr. Mamdani, since you were elected mayor of this city, many Jews no longer feel safe in New York,” Netanyahu said. He further accused Mamdani of associating with individuals hostile to Israel, stating: “You count as friends people like Hasan Piker, who said America deserved 9/11. Some friends you have”. Netanyahu also claimed Mamdani’s wife had liked posts praising the October 7th massacre and saying Tel Aviv shouldn’t exist.
Mamdani, a staunch critic of Israel who has been in office since January 2026, fired back after the address. In a statement, he accused Netanyahu of using his UN speech to repeat “baseless lies meant to sanitise his genocide of Palestinians” and emphasized that “no lie can change the fact that he remains the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity”. Mamdani had previously called on the US federal government to execute the ICC’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu.
Jewish Commentator Rejects Netanyahu’s Claims
Dash Dobrofsky, a Jewish American commentator, directly contested Netanyahu’s assertion that Jews in New York feel unsafe. In a video posted from the streets of Manhattan during the protests, Dobrofsky stated: “Here I am, a Jew in New York City, standing a few feet away from a massive anti-Netanyahu protest, and I feel completely safe”. He called Netanyahu a “liar” and a “war criminal.”
Protests and Broader Context
Outside the UN headquarters, hundreds of demonstrators gathered to protest Netanyahu’s appearance and express support for the Palestinian people. The address came amid growing international criticism and diplomatic isolation for Israel, and hours after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the assembly via pre-recorded video that the existence of the Palestinian people is under threat and the two-state solution has been severely undermined.
The protests filled New York streets, deepening divisions over the Middle East as the international community remains sharply divided over Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
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