Dozens of delegations leave UN hall during Netanyahu speech

Netanyahu responded directly to the diplomats’ departure. At the start of his speech, he called the departing representatives “moral cowards” and said that others who still wanted to leave could do so as well.

During his address to the 81st General Assembly, Netanyahu defended Israel’s military actions in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon, among others. He stated that Israel will continue its military campaigns and said: “We’re going to win. We have no other choice.”

Netanyahu rejects genocide allegations

A significant part of Netanyahu’s speech concerned the war in Gaza. The Israeli prime minister again rejected the accusation that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, describing the allegation as “the greatest lie of the century”.

An independent United Nations commission of inquiry previously concluded that, in its view, Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. Israel rejects that conclusion and maintains that its military operations are directed against Hamas. The classification of genocide remains the subject of international legal and political disputes.

Netanyahu also defended Israeli military action against Iran. He said that attacking Iranian nuclear facilities was militarily difficult, but that the decision was simple for him as prime minister because he considers Iran an existential threat to Israel.

Suriname mentioned, but participation in walkout not confirmed

A list of 77 countries, including Suriname, has meanwhile been circulating on social media and various websites, claiming that they left the hall during Netanyahu’s speech. Further investigation by Key News, however, shows that this list cannot be used as evidence for the walkout of September 24, 2026.

The list can be traced back to a publication by Israeli news site Ynet in September 2025, following Netanyahu’s speech during the 80th UN General Assembly. Ynet reported at the time that 77 delegations had either left the hall or were not present at all during the speech. Suriname was listed as the first country.

Ynet itself emphasised that not all 77 countries took part in an organised walkout. Some delegations were absent from the start. Representatives of Egypt and Jordan, for example, were not in the hall at all, according to the Israeli outlet, while other diplomats did stand up and leave.

Recent Ynet reporting on the 2026 meeting also refers to the 77 delegations from last year, making it clear that this number relates to Netanyahu’s UN appearance in September 2025 and not automatically to the 2026 protest action.

For the speech on Thursday, September 24, 2026, based on the reliable reporting available so far, it has not been established that representatives of Suriname actually stood up and left the hall.

International reporting mentions Turkey, Palestine, Tunisia, Syria, Algeria, Yemen, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iran, Qatar, Lebanon, Malaysia, Indonesia and Kuwait, among others, as countries whose representatives took part in the protest. Suriname is not mentioned in that verified list.

This does not automatically mean that Suriname was present during Netanyahu’s speech. It is also possible that the Surinamese delegation was not in the hall. No public statement has so far been found from the Surinamese government or delegation indicating that Suriname deliberately took part in the walkout.

Key News therefore cannot confirm at this time that Suriname was part of the protest action against Netanyahu.

International criticism

The walkout was one of the most visible moments of protest during Netanyahu’s appearance in New York. Demonstrations against his visit and Israel’s actions in Gaza also took place outside UN headquarters. Reuters reported that protesters demonstrated around the UN complex while Netanyahu delivered his speech inside.

Despite the protests, Netanyahu continued his speech and defended his government’s military policy. He also criticised international opponents and politicians whom he said were spreading incorrect or hostile information about Israel.