Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the United Nations General Assembly has drawn strong reactions from officials and political figures, following a speech in which he defended Israel’s actions and criticised several governments and public figures.

Dozens of delegates walked out of the UN General Assembly hall as Netanyahu began speaking on September 24. Netanyahu responded by calling the departing delegates “moral cowards.”

During his address, Netanyahu criticised Türkiye and Qatar over their positions on Israel and also attacked New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has criticised Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

Mamdani rejected Netanyahu’s accusations, describing his remarks as baseless and pointing to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu. Qatar also rejected Netanyahu’s allegations, with its foreign ministry saying the accusations sought to divert attention from the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. Türkiye similarly criticised Netanyahu’s remarks.

The speech has sparked further debate over Israel’s international standing and the continuing conflict in Gaza. The reactions highlight the sharp divisions surrounding Israel’s policies and the war at international forums.