Empty Seats Mark Netanyahu's Speech as Nearly 70 Nations Walk Out
The United Nations General Assembly hall was suddenly filled with empty seats as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to deliver his speech. Delegations from nearly 70 countries chose to walk out as a form of protest against the Israeli genocide in Gaza and attacks across the region.
Footage from the 81st UN General Assembly session shows dozens of delegations leaving the room simultaneously as Netanyahu approached the podium. Several nations left only a single representative or junior diplomat behind, while others did not attend the speech at all.
Turkey, Palestine, Tunisia, Syria, Algeria, Yemen, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iran, Qatar, Lebanon, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Kuwait were among the countries whose representatives joined the protest action.
Delegations from Spain, Brazil, Peru, Cuba, Nigeria, Ghana, Libya, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Oman, Niger, Madagascar, Botswana, the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Cape Verde, and several other nations also performed the walk-out or were absent.
The walk-out occurred amidst ongoing international condemnation of Israeli attacks in Gaza, policies in the occupied West Bank, and strikes against Lebanon and Syria.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded in September 2025 that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. However, Israel has rejected these findings.
Netanyahu is also on the list of individuals subject to arrest under International Criminal Court (ICC) warrants issued on 21 November 2024. The warrants relate to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip.
Despite dozens of nations leaving the room, several delegations remained present during Netanyahu’s speech. Representatives from the United States, Germany, Argentina, Hungary, Serbia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and Greece stayed in the UN General Assembly hall.
The United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Belgium, and Norway—whose diplomatic relations with Israel have faced tension due to the Gaza issue—also kept their representatives in the room. European Union delegations also remained on site.
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 through the Abraham Accords, also remained in their seats.
Other nations present during the speech included Australia, Austria, Canada, Portugal, Poland, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Iceland, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Kenya, and El Salvador.
The mass walk-out left large portions of the UN General Assembly hall appearing empty as Netanyahu continued his address.
“If there are any other moral cowards who have not yet left this room, please do so now,” Netanyahu remarked.