Delegates from nearly 70 countries walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall on Friday, September 25, 2026, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached the podium to deliver a speech. The mass boycott at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly highlighted deep international divisions over military campaigns in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria, alongside mounting diplomatic pressures.
Mass Walkout and Disruptions at the UN General Assembly
As Netanyahu stepped forward to address the assembly, diplomats from nations including Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, and Cuba stood up and left their seats vacant. According to reports from AFP and Anadolu Agency, the departure was coordinated through memos circulated among missions, leaving numerous benches empty across the hall. While some countries left single junior diplomats behind to monitor proceedings, others cleared their rows entirely. Jeers and mocking chants echoed through the chamber as the Israeli delegation stood and applauded, prompting the session’s president to call repeatedly for order. Netanyahu’s own delegation stood and applauded in response, while the Israeli leader issued a blunt rebuke to the departing diplomats, stating, “If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t left this room, please go.”
Indonesian and Regional Delegations Join the Proost
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that its diplomatic delegation, led through the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia in New York, participated directly in the boycott. Video footage released by the ministry showed Indonesian delegates standing in unison with peers from Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states, the Arab League, and the Non-Aligned Movement. Countries joining the protest or leaving their seats empty included Gulf nations, and various Latin American and African delegations. The collective action mirrored rising global scrutiny over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where an Independent International Commission of Inquiry of the UN previously concluded that Israeli military actions met the threshold of genocide—allegations that the Israeli government rejects.
Geopolitical Attacks on Allies and Local Leaders
Facing domestic political pressures ahead of Israel’s scheduled October 27 elections, Netanyahu used the global platform to criticize both adversaries and traditional Western allies. He singled out the United Kingdom and France, countries that have recently imposed limited restrictions on Israeli exports from the occupied West Bank and have increased diplomatic pressure. Netanyahu criticized the two nations for invoking colonial histories while accusing Israel of colonialism. He also targeted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, labeling him an antisemite and claiming that Jewish residents felt unsafe since Mamdani took office. Mamdani had previously criticized Netanyahu and stated an intention to enforce International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants if he possessed the jurisdiction—though he later acknowledged lacking such authority. The ICC issued statements in 2024 indicating reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu bears criminal responsibility for war crimes in Gaza, charges that the Israeli prime minister denies.
Summary of Key Developments
- Event Date: September 25, 2026, during the 81st UN General Assembly.
- Key Targets of Speech: Prime Minister Netanyahu criticized UK and France over export sanctions and attacked New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over ICC warrant remarks.
- Political Context: The address occurred ahead of Israel’s national elections set for October 27, 2026, amid ongoing international inquiries regarding actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
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