Delegates Stream Out as Netanyahu Takes the Podium
A mass walkout by dozens of national delegations disrupted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, turning his speech into one of the most visually striking diplomatic protests in recent UN history. As Netanyahu approached the lectern, representatives from numerous countries rose from their seats and left the hall, leaving large stretches of the chamber visibly empty [1].
Reuters footage captured the scale of the departure, showing delegates filing out in groups and the assembly hall remaining largely vacant as Netanyahu continued his remarks [2]. UN General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman was forced to call for order multiple times as booing and chanting broke out inside the chamber [1].
Netanyahu Fires Back: 'Moral Cowards'
Netanyahu did not let the walkout pass without comment. At the very opening of his speech, he turned on those who had already left, calling them "moral cowards," and went further — inviting any remaining delegates who intended to protest to go ahead and leave as well [2]. He then delivered the bulk of his address to a hall dotted with empty seats, devoting significant portions of his remarks to Iran and regional developments, and offering thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump [1].
The Seven Who Stayed
With so many delegations absent, attention quickly shifted to those who remained. Reports from foreign media identified up to seven countries whose representatives stayed in their seats throughout Netanyahu's speech: the United States, Greece, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, China, and Colombia [1][2].
The attributions, however, carry different levels of specificity. Al-Monitor, reporting from New York, explicitly named Bahrain, China, and Colombia as countries whose delegations did not join the walkout [1]. The Times of Israel separately reported that, despite the departure of most Arab and Muslim-majority country delegations, the UAE's delegation remained in place [2]. The U.S., as Israel's closest ally, was also confirmed among those who stayed to hear the speech in full [1].
Greece and Azerbaijan were cited in broader foreign media roundups but were not individually confirmed by named outlets in the same granular way as the others [1][2].
Abraham Accords Nations Draw Scrutiny
Among those who stayed, Bahrain and the UAE attracted particular notice. Both countries normalized diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, making their decision to remain seated — while the majority of Arab and Muslim-majority delegations walked out — a pointed contrast [1][2].
Their presence was not lost on observers tracking the fault lines within the Arab world over Israel policy. The walkout by most Arab and Muslim-majority delegations underscored how isolated the Abraham Accords signatories appeared within that bloc on this occasion.
China and Colombia: Less Obvious Choices
The reported presence of China and Colombia added a layer of complexity to the picture. Neither country is a close Israeli ally, and Colombia in particular has been openly critical of Israeli military operations in Gaza under President Gustavo Petro. Al-Monitor's reporting placed both nations among those who did not participate in the coordinated walkout [1][2].
It is important to note what staying in the hall does and does not signify. As both sources make clear, a delegation remaining seated cannot automatically be read as an endorsement of Netanyahu's policies or Israel's military conduct [1][2]. What can be confirmed is only that those delegations chose not to participate in the organized protest exit — a diplomatic choice that itself carries meaning, but a more ambiguous one than outright support.
A Hall That Told Its Own Story
The images that emerged from the General Assembly — rows of empty blue seats, a prime minister addressing a chamber that had largely emptied itself in real time — carried a symbolic weight that transcended the content of the speech itself. For Netanyahu, completing his address under those conditions was itself a statement of defiance. For the dozens of delegations that left, the walkout was a collective signal about the limits of their tolerance for his government's conduct.
What to Watch Next
The diplomatic fallout from the walkout is likely to reverberate in the days ahead. Key questions include whether any of the countries that stayed — particularly Bahrain and the UAE — face pressure from other Arab League members over their decision, and whether Colombia or China offer any official explanation for their delegations' presence. The episode also sets a charged backdrop for any subsequent bilateral meetings Netanyahu may hold on the sidelines of the General Assembly session.
