Israeli PM addresses UN

Representatives from dozens of countries walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stage to deliver his address, in a major diplomatic protest against the Israeli leader.

According to international media, delegations representing a total of 77 countries left the General Assembly hall during Netanyahu’s speech, including countries from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Oceania.

Among the 18 Arab countries whose delegations walked out were Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia and Comoros.

Delegations from 14 countries grouped under Asia and Turkey also left the hall. They were Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, the Maldives, Myanmar, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Twenty non-Arab African countries were also listed among those whose representatives walked out. They included South Africa, Senegal, Djibouti, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Eritrea, Chad, the Central African Republic, Madagascar, Niger, Botswana, Uganda, Lesotho, Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Namibia and Kenya.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, delegations from 17 countries reportedly left the chamber. They were Suriname, Panama, Venezuela, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Barbados, Colombia, Dominica, Nicaragua, Peru, Saint Lucia, the Bahamas, Bolivia, Cuba, Guyana, Brazil and Chile.

Six European countries, North Macedonia, San Marino, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Spain and Ireland, were also listed among those whose delegations walked out, while the Pacific nations of Tuvalu and Tonga were included in the list.

The mass walkout came as Netanyahu addressed the General Assembly amid intense international criticism of Israel over its military campaign in Gaza.

Despite the protest, Netanyahu delivered a defiant defence of Israel’s military operations, saying the country intended to continue its campaign against Hamas.

“We’re not done yet,” Netanyahu said, adding that what he described as the remaining elements of Hamas were in Gaza City and arguing that Israel needed to “finish the job.”

Netanyahu also used his address to speak directly to the hostages still believed to be held in Gaza, delivering a message first in Hebrew and then in English.

The walkout highlighted the deep diplomatic divisions surrounding the Gaza conflict as Netanyahu presented Israel’s position before the UN General Assembly. (Newswire)

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