Netanyahu faces UN walkout and protests

Around 2,000 people marched through New York City in protest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

The protesters gathered in Times Square and proceeded toward the United Nations headquarters, carrying Palestinian flags, banners reading “Free Palestine,” and chanting slogans accusing Netanyahu of genocide.

The demonstration coincided with Netanyahu’s U.N. visit and was one of several protests drawing international attention to the Gaza conflict and U.S. support for Israel.

diplomats from over 50 countries exited the United Nations General Assembly hall in protest as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium.

The walkout was in response to Netanyahu’s defiant tone on the Gaza conflict and his rejection of recent international recognition of Palestinian statehood.

He dismissed the idea of a two-state solution and accused some world leaders of enabling violence.

As he spoke, parts of the hall were nearly empty, with many seats left vacant following the mass exit.

In his address, the prime minister made an emotional appeal: “We’ve not forgotten you — not even for a second,” he said, speaking in Hebrew, as he pledged that Israel would continue to press for the return of all hostages.

He also delivered a stern message to Hamas: “Lay down your arms. Free the hostages now. If you do, you will live. If you don’t, Israel will hunt you down.”

Netanyahu’s UN speech also reiterated his denunciations of Western countries recognizing a Palestinian state, his commitment to continue military operations in Gaza, and the centrality he placed on securing the release of hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the United Nations was not only delivered at the UN General Assembly, but also broadcast into the Gaza Strip via loudspeakers and, he claimed, on cellphones belonging to Palestinians in Gaza.

Netanyahu used the unusual broadcast tactic in an attempt to speak directly to Gaza residents and the hostages still being held by Hamas. He said loudspeakers had been placed along the border with Gaza “in the hope that our dear hostages will hear my message.”

Netanyahu used visual aids, including a map of disputed territories, and attempted to address critics directly.

International reactions were swift. Critics described the walkout as a powerful diplomatic rebuke, signaling growing global frustration over Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

Supporters of Netanyahu, meanwhile, viewed the exit as a symbolic gesture devoid of substance.

The event further exposed the deep polarization on the UN stage. It underscores how the Gaza war and debates over Palestinian sovereignty are reshaping diplomatic norms and alliances.