Diplomats walk out calling Netanyahu 'coward'

An unprecedented protest took place on Thursday, September 24, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stage to speak at the 81st session of the General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York. According to the BBC, delegations from several Arab, Muslim, African and European countries walked out of the assembly hall in protest against the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.

After Netanyahu stood at the podium, many diplomats present in the hall protested with boos and jeers, forcing the session president to repeatedly call for order. However, he began his speech amid applause from the Israeli delegation and its supporters.

Netanyahu's tough stance and remarks

At the very beginning of his speech, Netanyahu attacked the diplomats who walked out in strong language. He said, "If there are any more moral cowards in this hall, you too can leave now."

Key points presented in the speech

Rejecting genocide allegations: He strongly rejected the genocide allegations brought by the international community and the United Nations, calling them "false statements".
War on seven fronts: He claimed that Israel is currently fighting a war to defend itself on a total of seven fronts, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and other groups in the Middle East.
Iran's nuclear facilities: Regarding the attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, he said it was one of the easiest and most inevitable decisions he took for global protection.

International pressure and diplomatic situation

The walkout made clear the deep polarisation of the world community over the Middle East conflict. Israel is facing intense pressure on the international stage as the death toll of Palestinians has risen alarmingly amid the prolonged bloody conflict in Gaza.

During the session, several countries, including Australia, Britain, Canada and France, formally announced their decision to recognise the State of Palestine, which Netanyahu strongly opposed. Meanwhile, he delivered this speech amid the continuation of an arrest warrant against him at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and intense public protests on the streets of New York.