Netanyahu Addresses U.N. General Assembly Amid Walkouts and Outside Protests

On September 24, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered an address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. During the speech, a number of foreign delegations walked out of the chamber, while the Israeli delegation cheered in support, according to BBC News and CBS News. Outside the U.N. building, hundreds of protesters gathered, including actor Susan Sarandon, as reported by NBC News. Netanyahu's address focused on Iran and on defending Israel's military actions in Gaza and the West Bank, according to CBS News. He also used the speech to criticize critics including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and political commentator Hasan Piker, per NBC News. The speech drew condemnation from some fellow world leaders in attendance, according to CBS News. The address took place on the second day of the U.N. General Assembly session, during which Iran and the war in Ukraine were also central topics of discussion among diplomats, per NPR. Separately, ABC News reported that Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine killed at least eight civilians as the U.N. debated how to end that conflict, though this development was not corroborated by other sources in this set and its connection to the General Assembly proceedings remains unclear. The specific number of delegations that walked out during Netanyahu's speech, the exact size of the outside protest, and the full list of leaders who condemned the address were not detailed consistently across sources and remain unresolved.