UN delegates stage walkout during Israeli PM Netanyahu’s speech
During remarks delivered at the UN on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a delegation that largely protested his speech
by Summer Lane | September 26, 2025
Delegates attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday walked out as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to deliver a speech, further highlighting global tensions regarding the Middle Eastern conflict.
It’s unclear exactly how many delegates walked out, but video of the UN hall shows, at the very least, dozens of delegates exiting the room.
Despite the walkout, PM Netanyahu revealed that his speech was being delivered to a global audience and livestreamed to cell phones in Gaza.
“And so, to the remaining Hamas leaders, and to the jailers of our hostages, I now say: lay down your arms, let my people go. Free the hostages, all of them, the whole 38,” he said during his remarks. “…If you do, you will live. If you don’t, Israel will hunt you down.”
On Thursday, President Donald Trump delivered a similar message to the press when asked about the situation in the Middle East, in which Israel is deadlocked in conflict with Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip – a battle that has been ongoing since Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, 2023.
“I think we’re getting close to getting some kind of a deal done – we have to get the hostages back,” President Trump said. “…It looks like there are 20 living hostages and probably 38 or so dead hostages.”
PM Netanyahu’s remarks to the UN – which essentially promised ongoing Israeli retribution if their demands are not met by Hamas – were unpopular with the delegation.
Yet just one day before, the UN listened to virtually delivered remarks from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. In his speech, Abbas called Israel’s attacks on Gaza a “genocide,” and asked for membership for the Palestinian state – which is not recognized by all countries – at the United Nations, Fox News reported.
Abbas’s remarks were delivered virtually because the United States revoked his visa in August.
“Before the PLO and PA can be considered partners for peace, they must consistently repudiate terrorism — including the October 7 massacre — and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by U.S. law and as promised by the PLO,” the State Department explained in a statement last month.
According to the agency, the Palestinian Authority must “take concrete steps to return to a constructive path of compromise and peaceful coexistence with the State of Israel” if they want to engage with the U.S. in any meaningful way.
