OMM Redaksiyası
Delegations from nearly 70 countries walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall or left their seats vacant on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address, in a mass protest over Israel’s actions in Gaza and attacks across the region, according to Anadolu Agency.
Anadolu’s review of footage from the 81st UN General Assembly showed dozens of delegations leaving the chamber together after Netanyahu approached the podium. Some countries left a single representative or junior diplomat behind, while others did not attend the speech.
Türkiye, Palestine, Tunisia, Syria, Algeria, Yemen, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iran, Qatar, Lebanon, Malaysia, Indonesia and Kuwait were among those joining the protest.
Representatives from Spain, Brazil, Peru, Cuba, Nigeria, Ghana, Libya, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Oman, Niger, Madagascar, Botswana, the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda and Cabo Verde also walked out or remained absent.
Protest over Gaza and regional attacks
The walkout came amid continued international condemnation of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, its policies in the occupied West Bank and its attacks on Lebanon and Syria.
A UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded in September 2025 that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has rejected the finding.
Netanyahu is also the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court on Nov. 21, 2024, over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip.
Western delegations remain in chamber
Representatives of the United States, Germany, Argentina, Hungary, Serbia, Ukraine, Czechia and Greece remained in the General Assembly hall during Netanyahu’s address.
The United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Belgium and Norway, whose relations with Israel have come under increasing strain over Gaza, also kept representatives in the chamber. The European Union delegation likewise remained.
China, which has repeatedly criticised Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, was represented by a single diplomat. Delegations from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which normalised relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, also stayed in their seats.
Australia, Austria, Canada, Portugal, Poland, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Iceland, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Kenya and El Salvador were among the other countries represented during the speech.
The walkout left large sections of the General Assembly chamber visibly empty as Netanyahu continued his address.
