UN scene of Netanyahu’s isolation: Empty seats mark Israeli PM’s address

Pars Today – Dozens of diplomats walked out of the United Nations hall as Netanyahu began his speech, in a clear protest against the Gaza war. The incident received widespread coverage in both Arab and Israeli media.

Dozens of diplomats walked out of the hall during Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech, an action that was reported not only by many Arab media outlets, including Qatar’s Al Jazeera, but also by Israeli domestic media. According to Pars Today, the diplomats’ protest was a response to Netanyahu and the ongoing war and genocide in Gaza, now approaching its third year.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the walkout of diplomats from the hall at the start of Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech was a clear sign of the world’s view of Israel. The channel stated that the departure of dozens of attendees during Netanyahu’s address was “the world spitting in our face.”

According to Israeli media, the hall was nearly empty during Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations. In response, the Israeli delegation stood and applauded to compensate for the lack of audience. Some Israeli outlets criticized Netanyahu’s performance, describing his speech as weak and nervous.

A reporter from Israel’s Channel 13 commented on the diplomatic walkout, saying that when diplomats left the hall immediately after Netanyahu began his speech, this is not spitting in Netanyahu’s face, but in Israel’s face.

Al Jazeera reported under the headline “Netanyahu’s Speech to a Nearly Empty Hall” that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Friday address at the United Nations—amid an International Criminal Court investigation—drew criticism from Israeli media. The network noted that families of some Israeli captives protested outside the UN simultaneously with Netanyahu’s speech.

Nearby, pro-Palestine demonstrations were also held, with participants waving Palestinian flags to condemn the war and what they described as Israel’s genocide in Gaza, calling for an end to the conflict.

Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported that Israel’s opposition sharply criticized Netanyahu’s address to the United Nations General Assembly, calling it “old deception” that has worsened Israel’s situation. They argued that his statements reflected the words of a party leader, not a prime minister.

Meanwhile, the Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth acknowledged that the walkout by world leaders at the start of Netanyahu’s speech clearly demonstrated how isolated Israel has become on the international stage.
On Friday night, as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his speech, leaders and dignitaries from around the world booed him, and his address started amid loud commotion from the audience. Shortly after the speech began, several world leaders walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall.

Barak Ravid, an Israeli journalist for Axios, shared images showing world leaders walking out as Netanyahu began his speech, noting that the United Nations General Assembly hall was now empty.