Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confronted protesters and dozens of delegates who walked out of his United Nations speech on Thursday, accusing them of ignoring violence against Iranian civilians.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Netanyahu questioned why critics of Israel had not staged similar protests over the Iranian government’s treatment of its own people.
“Where were you when the Iranian tyrants butchered and maimed tens of thousands of unarmed Iranian civilians?” Netanyahu asked. “Did you organise mass rallies? Hunger strikes? Did you protest outside the Iranian mission to the UN?”
He then turned directly to those protesting outside the UN.
“No, you didn’t do that,” he said. “Because you’re phony human rights protesters.”
Delegates Walk Out as Netanyahu Begins Speech
Netanyahu’s remarks came after dozens of delegates left the General Assembly hall as he took the podium. The walkout was linked to opposition to Israel’s military operations in Gaza and its wider policies towards the Palestinians.
The protest extended beyond the UN building. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in New York, with police detaining a number of protesters. Demonstrators were heard chanting against war and in support of Palestinians.
Netanyahu opened his address by challenging those who had left, calling them “moral cowards” and telling anyone who agreed with them to leave as well.
Netanyahu Defends Israel’s Actions
The Israeli prime minister used the speech to defend his government’s military actions, including its decision to attack Iran.
He said the decision to strike Iran had been among the easiest decisions he had made, arguing that Israel was acting in self-defence and was also protecting other countries from threats posed by Tehran.
His comments came as Israel faced growing international criticism over its conduct in Gaza. Palestinian health authorities say more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October 2023. Israel rejects accusations of genocide and says its military campaign is directed at Hamas.
Iran Becomes a Central Part of His Message
Netanyahu also focused heavily on Iran, accusing its leadership of suppressing dissent and targeting its own population.
His remarks come after reports documenting deadly crackdowns on Iranian protesters. Amnesty International said this month that Iranian security forces were responsible for killings, torture and sexual abuse during protests, including the 2022 demonstrations that followed the death of Mahsa Amini.
Netanyahu argued that international attention should also be directed towards those abuses.
He said the Iranian government would eventually lose its grip on power and predicted that Iranians would one day be free.
The speech reflected the deep divisions surrounding Israel’s conduct in the region, with Netanyahu seeking to defend his government’s actions while protesters and many international representatives continued to oppose them.
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