Dozens of delegations boycott Netanyahu's speech at UNGA

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen English
26 Sep 2025 18:20
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Presidents and representatives left the hall right as Netanyahu ascended to the podium, reflecting their diplomatic disapproval of his participation.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at UN headquarters. (AP)

Dozens of delegations participating in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York withdrew ahead of ICC-wanted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech.

According to Reuters, presidents and representatives left the hall right as he ascended to the podium, reflecting their diplomatic disapproval of his participation.

لحظة انسحاب الرؤساء وممثلي الدول من جلسة الأمم المتحدة عند صعود رئيس حكومة الاحتلال بنيامين نتنياهو إلى المنبر لإلقاء كلمته.#الميادين pic.twitter.com/5c8B8Mq18F
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) September 26, 2025

After Netanyahu's speech ended, the delegations returned to the hall to resume their meeting as scheduled.

At the same time, activists and crowds gathered outside the UN's New York headquarters to protest the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

تزامنًا مع كلمة نتنياهو.. تظاهرة حاشدة أمام مقر الأمم المتحدة في نيويورك تنديدًا بحرب الإبادة على #غزة.#الميادين pic.twitter.com/Yd3iN2fDlr
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) September 26, 2025

This comes as dozens of nations scale back their support of "Israel" and Netanyahu's government due to his policies, which have devastated the Gaza Strip, in addition to his attacks on Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, and Qatar

Speech used to taunt Gazans

Netanyahu's speech focused on condemning countries that recognized a Palestinian state, accusing them of rewarding murderers by supporting a state in what he considers the heart of "Israel", and he will firmly state that this will not be allowed to happen.

He also instructed the military to place loudspeakers in front of Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip to force the residents to hear the speech, according to a report by the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

Haaretz clarified that the Southern Command has already drafted instructions to broadcast the speech through loudspeaker systems that will be placed on trucks and near the separation barrier, with an Israeli military source describing the objective of the measure as psychological warfare.

Yedioth Ahronoth indicated that the military understands the risks that could result from this directive but has refused to issue an official response, while senior officers within the military institution criticized the decision and described it as a "crazy idea", questioning its military utility.