Benjamin Netanyahu met by mass walkout of diplomats before UN address

Embattled Benjamin Netanyahu was met with a walkout protest over war in Gaza before he addressed the UN today – as the Israeli PM faces mounting pressure to end the conflict.

As the leader, who is subject to an international criminal arrest warrant, prepared to speak at UN General Assembly in New York, dozens of delegates from multiple nations staged a walkout. A letter had been circulated prior to Netanyahu's appearance by the Palestinian mission at the UN urging a co-ordinated walkout, the Jerusalem Post had earlier reported. The aim was to "send a clear message to Netanyahu and his government that no one is prepared to be complicit in genocide, war crimes, and the illegal occupation".

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Next month marks two years since war erupted in Gaza after Hamas’ October 7 assault on Israel. But recent weeks have seen famine declared in parts of the enclave and a UN commission found Israel has been committing genocide against Palestinians there. Despite growing international isolation, Netanyahu told the UN on Friday Israel "must finish the job" against Hamas in Gaza. And he branded countries' recognition of Palestinian state "shameful".

It comes as it emerged Tony Blair has been involved in discussions over heading a post-war transitional authority in Gaza. The plan, said to have White House backing, would mean the ex-PM leads a governing authority with UN and Gulf nations' support ahead of control being handed back to Palestinians, the BBC reported. Meanwhile, this month, the UK, Canada, France and Australia announced their recognition of an independent Palestinian state. Against this backdrop, Netanyahu put on a defiant front before heading to the US, where he will also meet President Donald Trump. "I will tell our truth," Netanyahu said on Thursday. "I will condemn those leaders who, instead of condemning the murderers, rapists and burners of children, want to give them a state in the heart of Israel."

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The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant accusing Netanyahu of crimes against humanity, which he denies. Netanyahu’s appearance comes the day after the Palestinian president told the world his people “reject” Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. Mahmoud Abbas told the UN the militant group would have no post-war role governing Gaza.

Abbas leads the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, which administers portions of the West Bank. Hamas won legislative elections in Gaza in 2006 before seizing control from Abbas' forces the following year. Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Six-Day war, before withdrawing from Gaza in 2005. The Palestinians want all three territories to form their envisioned state, part of a "two-state solution" embraced by the international community for decades.

The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023 which killed about 1,200 people – with 251 hostages taken. Over 65,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in Israel’s offensive, according to ministry of health figures.