Netanyahu Denounces Palestinian State Recognition Amid UN Walkouts

Tue Nov 11 2025 07:56:02 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

During a contentious address at the UN General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the recent recognition of Palestinian statehood by several nations. His speech sparked significant protests and led to a mass walkout by diplomats.

In a charged speech at the UN General Assembly, Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the recognition of Palestinian statehood by Western nations, terming the move a 'mark of shame.' The address drew protests outside and notable walkouts inside the assembly, accentuating the escalating tensions surrounding Israel's military actions in Gaza. Netanyahu's remarks included a reaffirmation of Israel's stance against a Palestinian state and a rejection of allegations regarding humanitarian crises in Gaza. The international community's reaction remains divided, with potential ceasefire discussions on the horizon.

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 7 October 2023 attack on Israel and the 9/11 attack on the US. He said the two countries were fighting the same enemies, pointing to chants of 'death to America' by groups linked to Iran.

The Israeli prime minister repeated that Israel would not allow a Palestinian state to exist and said this position was supported by the vast majority of Israelis. He went on to rebuff the conclusion of a UN commission of inquiry that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, claiming the charge was 'baseless'.

He also rejected statements by multiple UN agencies that Israel was deliberately restricting the amount of aid entering Gaza. In August, a UN-backed body confirmed that famine was taking place in Gaza City.

Netanyahu devoted the latter section of his address to Israel's regional neighbors, saying it was close to a de-escalation agreement with Syria and calling on the Lebanese government to step-up its efforts to disarm Hezbollah.

International journalists have been banned by Israel from entering the Gaza Strip independently since the start of the war nearly two years ago, making verifying claims from both sides difficult.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. At least 65,549 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.