UN delegates walk out before Netanyahu's speech

United Nations General Assembly delegates walked out of the auditorium before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech on Friday.

The speech boycott occurred as more countries disapprove of Israel's military approach toward Gaza, following Hamas' terrorist attack on Tel Aviv in October 2023, The Hill reported.

In the attack, Hamas initially killed about 1,200 people and took more than 250 people hostage. Twenty people are still in Hamas custody, as are the bodies of 28 more.

As Israel's war in Gaza has continued, more than 60,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, and food shortages in the Strip have also been an issue. As a result, international favor has turned against Israel, particularly as Netanyahu has rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state.

During this UN General Assembly meeting, 10 more countries joined the roughly 140 that have recognized Palestinian statehood.

The UN's International Court of Justice is considering South Africa's case against Israel, alleging that the nation is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

In Netanyahu's speech, he rejected the charges.

“You know what message the leaders who recognize the Palestinian state this week sent to the Palestinians? It’s a very clear message: murdering Jews pays off,” Netanyahu said.

He also rejected the genocide claims, saying that Israel warns Palestinians to leave conflict areas and has facilitated food aid to them.

“Would a country committing genocide plead with a civilian population it’s supposedly targeting to get out of harms way?” he asked. “We’re trying to get them out and Hamas is trying to keep them in.”

Netanyahu said the war could end immediately if Hamas agrees to surrender, and that his plan for a post-Hamas Gaza Strip includes Israel maintaining full security control and a “peaceful civilian authority would be established by Gazans and others committed to peace with Israel,” according to The Hill.

He also said that a special Israeli intelligence operation had tapped into cellphones to livestream his UN remarks into Gaza, and loudspeakers were set up near the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip for the hostages to hear his message.

“Our brave heroes, this is Prime Minister Netanyahu, speaking to you live from the United Nations,” Netanyahu said.

“We have not forgotten you, not even for a second. The people of Israel are with you. We will not falter, and we will not rest until we bring all of you home.”

“So to the remaining Hamas leaders and to the jailers of our hostages, I now say: ‘Lay down your arms! Let my people go! Free the hostages, all of them, the whole 48, free the hostages now!’” he said.

“If you do, you will live. If you don’t, Israel will hunt you down.”