Netanyahu delivers defiant UN speech amid protests and walkouts in New York

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York to mount a forceful defence of Israel's conduct in Gaza and its campaign against Iran. The speech came as planned protests took place outside the venue and dozens of delegates walked out of the hall as he approached the podium. Netanyahu, who is preparing for Israel's legislative elections in October, turned the appearance into a broad attack on critics at home and abroad.

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During the speech, Netanyahu accused opponents of Israel's war in Gaza of moral failure and criticised media outlets and international partners. He also directed remarks at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whom he described as antisemitic, saying many Jews no longer felt safe in the city since Mamdani's election. Mamdani has previously called for US federal authorities to enforce the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Netanyahu if he visits the United States.

Netanyahu also focused heavily on Iran, saying it posed an existential threat and arguing that Israel was defending countries whose delegates had left the hall. He said he had drawn a red line against Iran's nuclear programme 14 years ago and described the destruction of Iranian nuclear facilities as one of the easiest decisions he had made as prime minister. The remarks came against the backdrop of the Iran war, which began in late February after US and Israeli strikes on the country.

The speech matters because it placed Israel's wars in Gaza and with Iran directly before one of the world's main diplomatic forums. It also highlighted the continuing strain between Israel and parts of the international community over the conduct of the Gaza war and the legal scrutiny facing Netanyahu. The International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest in November 2024, alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity, including starvation as a method of warfare and intentionally directing attacks against civilians.

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Netanyahu rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza, saying the opposite was true, although the supplied material does not include the full end of that statement. His comments to the assembly were delivered in a highly charged setting, with visible walkouts inside and protests outside underscoring the political isolation he faced in the room. The address also reflected the domestic pressure on Netanyahu as he heads towards an election year in Israel.

What remains unclear from the available material is how many people joined the protests outside the venue and whether there were any security incidents linked to the demonstration. It is also not clear how other delegations responded after the walkouts or whether the speech will affect diplomatic contacts in the coming days. The key developments to watch are any official reactions from the United Nations, further responses from New York officials, and whether Netanyahu's remarks feed into the wider debate over the Gaza war and the ICC warrant.

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