Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday to defend Israel’s military operations across the Middle East, including strikes on Iran, while sharply criticizing international leaders and other political opponents.
Netanyahu defended Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, saying the decision to launch the strikes had been difficult to execute but straightforward for him to authorize because he viewed Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat to Israel.
“Devastating Iran’s nuclear facilities was hard. It was very hard to do,” Netanyahu said. “But for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make as prime minister.”
His appearance triggered a visible protest inside the General Assembly hall. Dozens of delegates walked out as Netanyahu approached the podium, while others cheered, booed or chanted. Netanyahu responded by calling those who left “moral cowards.”
Netanyahu also claimed that leaders of some countries whose representatives walked out had privately expressed appreciation for Israel’s actions against Iran. He characterized the contrast between those private conversations and the public protest as hypocrisy.
Much of Netanyahu’s address was devoted to defending Israel against international criticism over its military campaigns and rejecting allegations concerning its conduct in Gaza. Israel has denied accusations that its military campaign amounts to genocide, saying its operations are directed at Hamas.
Netanyahu also directed criticism at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a longtime critic of the Israeli government. Mamdani has accused Netanyahu of committing genocide against Palestinians and has described him as a war criminal. Netanyahu rejected those accusations and called Mamdani antisemitic. Mamdani has said he opposes antisemitism and maintains that criticism of Israeli government policy should not be equated with hostility toward Jewish people.
The speech came amid continuing international divisions over Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the broader conflicts involving Iran and other armed groups in the region.
