Several delegations walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall in New York on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address at the 81st UNGA session. The dramatic walkout came amid intense international criticism of Israel over its military actions and the continuing Gaza conflict. As officials left the hall, Netanyahu responded sharply to the departing delegates. Turning to those who remained, he said, “Before I begin, just a quick announcement: if there are any other moral cowards who haven’t yet left this hall, please do so now. Thank you very much.” The address then became a strong defence of Israel’s actions and a direct response to the criticism being levelled against the country on the international stage. Netanyahu also used the UN platform to speak about what he described as growing anti-Semitism and called on Jews around the world to remain confident in the face of threats.