The Crossbill News Desk
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a visible rebuke at the United Nations on Thursday as dozens of delegates walked out of the General Assembly hall when he began his address, while he used the platform to defend Israel’s military actions and attack critics at home and abroad, Reuters reported.
The speech came just weeks before Israel’s general election, adding a political dimension to an already contentious appearance.
As delegates left the chamber, Netanyahu dismissed them as “moral cowards” and continued with a roughly 40-minute address that repeatedly targeted his critics. Supporters in the gallery responded by chanting in Hebrew: “The people of Israel live.”
Netanyahu directed particular criticism at New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has described him as a war criminal and this week called him “the architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians.”
“You tried to stop me from coming here. You tried. You tried to silence me. Well, you can't silence me. You can't silence the truth,” Netanyahu said of Mamdani.
Mamdani had campaigned on a pledge to have Netanyahu arrested for alleged war crimes if he visited New York, although he later acknowledged that he did not have the legal authority to carry out such an arrest. Netanyahu rejected the allegations against Israel, saying: “Here's a simple truth: Israel didn't commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide.”
He also accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas militants and attacked European leaders over their criticism of Israel.
“To all those spreading these lies about my country and about our brave soldiers, whether they sit in this hall or in the office of the antisemitic mayor of New York, I say this: Shame on you!” Netanyahu said.
In a statement, Mamdani said: “As he has done time and again, Prime Minister Netanyahu used his speech to repeat baseless lies meant to sanitize his genocide of Palestinians. Yet no lie can change the fact that he remains the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
The UN appearance came as Netanyahu faces a difficult political contest at home, with Israel’s general election scheduled for October 27.
His speech was broadcast live during evening prime time on Israel’s four main television channels and was widely viewed as having a domestic political audience in mind.
Netanyahu highlighted what he described as Israel’s battle on seven fronts and used visual props, including a pager and a Starlink satellite internet receiver. Referring to Iran, he said the device would allow Iranian officials who eventually defected to communicate freely.
“So when they inevitably defect, they too will be able to freely tell their story on social media,” he said, adding that it was only a matter of time before the Iranian authorities would be toppled by the people.
He also praised US President Donald Trump, despite the absence of a planned meeting between the two leaders during Netanyahu’s New York visit.
“We will continue to defend our state. We will continue to win because we have no other choice. In this battle against the barbarians, we've had no greater partner than President Trump. I thank him. I thank him for his bold leadership,” he said.
Outside the UN headquarters, several hundred protesters demonstrated against Israel’s military actions, with demonstrators chanting, “Stop arming Israel, let Gaza live” and “Stop arming Israel, let Iran live.” Police detained protesters during the demonstrations.
Netanyahu also criticised Western European governments over their positions on Israel and the occupied West Bank.
“The leaders of these countries have chosen to succumb to the antisemitic mobs. They've chosen weakness. They've chosen appeasement,” he said.
Addressing violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, Netanyahu said: “a handful of young juvenile delinquents, about 150 in number, who throw stones, who chop down olive trees.”
“Occasionally ... they lit some fires. I can't stand that. I won't stand for vigilantism. We're a country of law.”
The confrontation at the UN came amid continued international criticism of Israel over its conduct of the Gaza war and growing diplomatic pressure, while Netanyahu continues to campaign ahead of next month’s election.
The speech came just weeks before Israel’s general election, adding a political dimension to an already contentious appearance.
As delegates left the chamber, Netanyahu dismissed them as “moral cowards” and continued with a roughly 40-minute address that repeatedly targeted his critics. Supporters in the gallery responded by chanting in Hebrew: “The people of Israel live.”
War criminal Benjamin Netanyahu speaking to an empty hall, again. pic.twitter.com/3Qw3bz7zbq
— State of Palestine (@Palestine_UN) September 24, 2026
Netanyahu directed particular criticism at New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has described him as a war criminal and this week called him “the architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians.”
“You tried to stop me from coming here. You tried. You tried to silence me. Well, you can't silence me. You can't silence the truth,” Netanyahu said of Mamdani.
Mamdani had campaigned on a pledge to have Netanyahu arrested for alleged war crimes if he visited New York, although he later acknowledged that he did not have the legal authority to carry out such an arrest. Netanyahu rejected the allegations against Israel, saying: “Here's a simple truth: Israel didn't commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide.”
He also accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas militants and attacked European leaders over their criticism of Israel.
“To all those spreading these lies about my country and about our brave soldiers, whether they sit in this hall or in the office of the antisemitic mayor of New York, I say this: Shame on you!” Netanyahu said.
In a statement, Mamdani said: “As he has done time and again, Prime Minister Netanyahu used his speech to repeat baseless lies meant to sanitize his genocide of Palestinians. Yet no lie can change the fact that he remains the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
The UN appearance came as Netanyahu faces a difficult political contest at home, with Israel’s general election scheduled for October 27.
His speech was broadcast live during evening prime time on Israel’s four main television channels and was widely viewed as having a domestic political audience in mind.
Netanyahu highlighted what he described as Israel’s battle on seven fronts and used visual props, including a pager and a Starlink satellite internet receiver. Referring to Iran, he said the device would allow Iranian officials who eventually defected to communicate freely.
“So when they inevitably defect, they too will be able to freely tell their story on social media,” he said, adding that it was only a matter of time before the Iranian authorities would be toppled by the people.
He also praised US President Donald Trump, despite the absence of a planned meeting between the two leaders during Netanyahu’s New York visit.
“We will continue to defend our state. We will continue to win because we have no other choice. In this battle against the barbarians, we've had no greater partner than President Trump. I thank him. I thank him for his bold leadership,” he said.
Outside the UN headquarters, several hundred protesters demonstrated against Israel’s military actions, with demonstrators chanting, “Stop arming Israel, let Gaza live” and “Stop arming Israel, let Iran live.” Police detained protesters during the demonstrations.
Netanyahu also criticised Western European governments over their positions on Israel and the occupied West Bank.
“The leaders of these countries have chosen to succumb to the antisemitic mobs. They've chosen weakness. They've chosen appeasement,” he said.
Addressing violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, Netanyahu said: “a handful of young juvenile delinquents, about 150 in number, who throw stones, who chop down olive trees.”
“Occasionally ... they lit some fires. I can't stand that. I won't stand for vigilantism. We're a country of law.”
The confrontation at the UN came amid continued international criticism of Israel over its conduct of the Gaza war and growing diplomatic pressure, while Netanyahu continues to campaign ahead of next month’s election.
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