Delegates have walked out of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday afternoon just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was preparing to address the debate in New York.

In a powerful act of solidarity with UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, a majority of member states walked out of the Assembly Hall, leaving Netanyahu to address a visibly thinned audience.

UNGA 80 | Delegates walk out of UN Assembly as Netanyahu begins speech

Netanyahu vowed to continue Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and told the hostages still held by the Palestinian militants that they were not forgotten.

On October 7, 2023 Hamas attacked Israel, killing some 1 200 people and taking hostages, 48 of whom remain in Gaza, according to Israeli allies.

Israel’s military response has killed more than 65 000 people in Gaza, according to local health officials, and left much of the territory in ruins.

‘Massive Iranian nuclear arsenal’

Netanyahu has once again made headlines with renewed claims that Iran has developed and stored massive nuclear and ballistic missile arsenals aimed at the United States and Israel.

Undeterred, the Prime Minister defended Israel’s recent aerial strikes on Iran in June and July, describing them as preemptive measures to save the world from terror.

His remarks come amid growing international scrutiny over Israel’s military actions and escalating tensions in the region.