Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States, on September 25 local time.
As he took the podium, dozens of delegations from various countries left their seats.
Outside the UN headquarters that same day, dozens of protesters were arrested by police, while a war of words involving the mayor of New York City also unfolded.
3-Line Summary
1. Delegations left en masse during Netanyahu’s speech
2. Among the protesters arrested was a well-known actor
3. The war of words with Mamdani was a separate matter
‘Moral Cowards’ Remark and Delegations’ Walkout
According to the BBC, when Prime Minister Netanyahu began his speech at the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, numerous delegations left the chamber. Netanyahu called those who left “moral cowards” and said that if anyone who shared their views remained, they should leave as well. Israel’s delegation reportedly stayed in place and responded with cheers.
Behind this reaction is international criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon. A UN commission of inquiry previously said that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, while the Israeli government strongly denies the claim. The war began with an attack on southern Israel by Hamas-led forces on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. Since then, more than 7만3920 people have been killed in Israel’s military operation in Gaza, according to Gaza health authorities.
Actors Were Arrested Outside the UN
According to The Guardian, a sit-in protest calling for an end to U.S. arms support for Israel took place in front of the UN headquarters around the time of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s UN General Assembly speech. The protest was reportedly planned to coincide with Netanyahu’s speaking schedule. The New York Police Department arrested dozens of protesters at the scene, although the exact number of people arrested was not specifically confirmed. The protest drew widespread attention after it became known that those arrested included Academy Award-winning actor Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder, the lead actor in the drama series *Hacks*.
Netanyahu Also Targeted New York’s Mayor
According to The Telegraph, Prime Minister Netanyahu attacked New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani by calling him an “antisemitic mayor,” and Mamdani responded by rejecting the accusation. Although the specific details of the remarks and response have not yet been confirmed in detail, the war of words, which coincided with the UN General Assembly speech schedule, added a political dimension to the controversy unfolding in New York.
The walkout inside the chamber, the arrests outside it, and the war of words with New York’s mayor took place on the same day but were separate matters arising from different circumstances. Still, as the three scenes overlapped within a single day, it is clear that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to New York became the subject of controversy on several fronts at once.
References
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