Delegates and diplomats attending the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, September 26, 2024, staged a walkout as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UNGA 80.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the development occurred just as Netanyahu took the podium at the United Nations General Assembly.
It was gathered that representatives from countries, including those in the Arab world, Europe, and Latin America, were part of those who staged a walkout, exiting the hall amid boos and scattered cheers.
Meanwhile, order was quickly restored as Netanyahu addressed the UNGA.
During his address, Netanyahu took a swipe at the recent decisions to recognise Palestinian statehood.
He said: “I have a message for these leaders…”
“When the most savage terrorists on Earth are effusively praising your decision, you didn’t do something right — you did something wrong, horribly wrong.”
“Your disgraceful decision will encourage terrorism against Jews and against innocent people everywhere.”
“It will be a mark of shame on all of you.”
Netanyahu addressed the UNGA to stop what he described as “hypocrisy”
He claimed that many leaders who publicly condemn Israel are privately thanking him.
“You know deep down that Israel, Israel is fighting your fight.
“So I want to tell you a secret behind closed doors, many of the leaders who publicly condemn us, privately thank us.
“They tell me how much they value Israel’s superb intelligence services that have prevented, time and again, terrorist attacks in their capitals, time and again, saving countless lives,” he said.
The Israeli Prime Minister also used his speech to speak directly to the hostages held in Gaza and their captors.
To the hostages, he said: “We have not forgotten you… We will not falter, we will not rest until we have brought all of you home.”
To Hamas’s leadership, he said: “Lay down your arms… free the hostages now. If you do, you will live; if you don’t, Israel will hunt you down.”
He hit out at “false charge of genocide” and said: “If Hamas agrees to demands, war could end.”
Netanyahu also showed a map of the region and crossed out the various threats he said he had eliminated, such as Hezbollah and Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“Israel rebounded from its darkest day to deliver one of the most stunning military comebacks in history,” he said.
Recall that the governments of the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Australia recently recognised a Palestinian state in an effort to keep alive the prospect of a two-state solution.
“Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a message on X.
“Canada recognises the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on X.
This comes after decades of requests for sovereignty from the Palestinian side.
Netanyahu had previously condemned the recognition of a Palestinian state by Western powers, saying it only rewarded Hamas and made it harder to win the release of the remaining hostages.
