Netanyahu Condemns Palestinian State Recognition Amid UN Walk-Outs

Sun Oct 19 2025 23:34:55 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the UN General Assembly sparked controversy as he denounced recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood, leading to mass walk-outs by officials and protests outside.

During a contentious address at the UN General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harshly criticized the recognition of a Palestinian state by several Western nations, branding it a 'mark of shame'. Dozens of diplomats left the assembly in protest, as tensions over Israel's military actions in Gaza continue to escalate. Netanyahu repeated Israel's firm stance against the existence of a Palestinian state, amid growing international scrutiny and backlash.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has attacked the recognition of a Palestinian state by multiple Western countries during a combative speech at the UN General Assembly.

Netanyahu labelled the recognition moves a 'mark of shame' that sent the message that 'murdering Jews pays off'.

Dozens of officials and diplomats staged a walk-out as he took to the podium, leaving large parts of the conference hall empty. Outside, protesters against Israel's war in Gaza gathered in Times Square.

Israel has come under huge international pressure over its military action in Gaza, culminating in the UK, France, Canada, Australia, and other countries recognizing a Palestinian state this week.

In his opening remarks, Netanyahu displayed a map labelled 'The Curse' that he said showed Iranian proxy groups across the Middle East. He then highlighted Israeli military operations across the past year against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza, and Iran.

He thanked US President Donald Trump for American involvement in bombing Iran's Fordo nuclear site in June, and drew parallels between Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel and the September 11 attacks in the US.

Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would not allow a Palestinian state to exist, claiming this position was supported by the vast majority of Israelis. He dismissed a UN commission's conclusion that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza as 'baseless'.

In a controversial move, his office ordered that the Israeli military broadcast his speech to residents of Gaza using loudspeakers mounted on trucks near the perimeter fence. However, reports indicated that Gazans did not receive the broadcast.

The speech was met with immediate criticism back in Israel, where opposition leader Yair Lapid described it as a 'weary and whining' performance, suggesting it only exacerbated diplomatic tensions.

As international calls for peace continue, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas expressed willingness to work with world leaders toward a two-state solution during his speech at the same assembly.

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