Netanyahu Faces Empty UN Hall Amid Walkout During Gaza Speech
<p><strong>New York, September 26, 2025</strong> – Israeli Prime Minister <strong>Benjamin Netanyahu</strong> delivered one of the most contentious speeches at this year’s <strong>United Nations General Assembly</strong>, but the address unfolded before rows of empty seats. Dozens of delegations staged a mass walkout in protest, leaving only a handful of countries—including the United States—inside the hall as he began speaking.</p><p>The dramatic exodus reflected growing frustration over Israel’s nearly two-year war in Gaza, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced nearly the entire population. The walkout also underscored how isolated Netanyahu has become on the international stage as criticism of Israel’s military campaign intensifies.</p><h3>“Must Finish the Job”</h3><p>Speaking defiantly, Netanyahu vowed that Israel would not halt its offensive in Gaza until Hamas was completely defeated. His words were met with scattered applause and occasional jeers.</p><blockquote><p>“Israel must finish the job,” he declared, reiterating his government’s stance that Hamas could never again be allowed to pose a threat to Israel’s citizens.</p></blockquote><p>The Prime Minister framed Israel’s campaign not only as a national defense but as a broader battle against radical extremism:</p><blockquote><p>“You know deep down that Israel is fighting your fight,” he told the delegates who remained.</p></blockquote><h3>Address to Palestinians and Hostages</h3><p>Despite the half-empty chamber, Netanyahu insisted that his words were reaching Gaza directly. He claimed Israel had installed loudspeakers and hacked mobile phones in the enclave to broadcast his remarks.</p><p>Speaking directly to the <strong>48 Israeli hostages</strong> still held in Gaza, Netanyahu said:</p><blockquote><p>“Israel has not forgotten you. We will bring you home.”</p></blockquote><p>His message to Hamas was blunt and uncompromising: surrender, release the captives, or face elimination.</p><blockquote><p>“If you do, you will live. If you don’t, Israel will hunt you down.”</p></blockquote><h3>Rejection of Palestinian Statehood</h3><p>The Israeli leader also dismissed recent international moves toward recognizing Palestinian statehood. Countries including the <strong>UK and France</strong> have announced recognition in recent months, but Netanyahu described such efforts as “national suicide” for Israel.</p><p>He accused the <strong>Palestinian Authority</strong> of being “corrupt to the core” and argued that rewarding Hamas or its allies with statehood would only embolden extremism.</p><h3>US Says Gaza Deal “Close”</h3><p>Netanyahu’s remarks came just hours before <strong>US President Donald Trump</strong> told reporters that a Gaza ceasefire deal was “very close.”</p><blockquote><p>“I think we maybe have a deal on Gaza, very close to a deal on Gaza,” Trump said.</p></blockquote><p>But skepticism remains high after multiple failed attempts to secure a ceasefire and hostage release over the past year.</p><h3>Facing Global Pressure</h3><p>The Prime Minister’s appearance at the UN came at a time of mounting international scrutiny. The <strong>International Criminal Court (ICC)</strong> has filed war crimes charges against Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, further complicating Israel’s diplomatic standing.</p><p>Outside UN headquarters, <strong>pro-Palestinian protesters</strong> staged demonstrations, demanding accountability and an immediate halt to Israel’s offensive.</p><h3>Humanitarian Toll in Gaza</h3><p>The war, now approaching its second year, has inflicted catastrophic damage on Gaza. According to local health ministry figures considered credible by the UN, more than <strong>65,000 Palestinians have been killed</strong>, and humanitarian groups warn of famine, medical collapse, and the near-total displacement of the enclave’s population.</p><p>Aid organizations continue to sound alarms, describing conditions as among the worst humanitarian crises of the century.</p><h3>October 7: The Spark of War</h3><p>Throughout his address, Netanyahu repeatedly referred back to the <strong>October 7, 2023 Hamas attack</strong>, which killed 1,219 people inside Israel. He recounted the atrocities committed that day, saying that as long as he remained in office, such events would never be allowed to happen again.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Netanyahu’s UN speech highlighted both his government’s determination to press forward in Gaza and his growing isolation on the world stage. While he sought to project strength and resolve, the mass walkout of delegates symbolized deepening divisions in the international community.</p><p>As the war drags on, the gulf between Israel’s insistence on “finishing the job” and the world’s calls for peace and accountability appears wider than ever.</p>