Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a forceful and confrontational address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, criticising Israel’s opponents as well as several countries that have traditionally been regarded as allies.

The speech came as Netanyahu faces a reelection campaign in Israel ahead of the October 27 elections. During his appearance at the UN, he criticised leaders and governments including Iran, Britain, France and Turkey, while also directing remarks at New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The address prompted a significant reaction inside the General Assembly hall, with dozens of envoys leaving as Netanyahu spoke. Some delegates jeered and booed, while members of Netanyahu’s own team stood and applauded. The presiding speaker also called for order.

“If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t left this hall, please do so now,” Netanyahu told delegates who were turning their backs on him.

Netanyahu also criticised Mamdani, describing the New York mayor as “antisemitic” and claiming that “since you were elected mayor of this city, many Jews no longer feel safe.”

Mamdani had previously threatened to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Netanyahu, although he later acknowledged that he did not possess the authority to do so.

The International Criminal Court said in 2024 that there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu was responsible for war crimes connected to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which followed Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks. Netanyahu has rejected the allegations.

Responding to Netanyahu’s speech, Mamdani said, “Netanyahu used his speech to repeat baseless lies meant to sanitize his genocide of Palestinians.”

“Yet no lie can change the fact that he remains the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

The speech also coincided with protests outside the United Nations, where demonstrators carried banners calling for an end to the war. Several protesters were detained, including Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, one of Netanyahu’s strongest critics, was not present at the UN gathering after the Trump administration refused to grant him a visa.

In a video message played before Netanyahu’s address, Abbas said, “We reject these unlawful punitive measures, and we reject the accusations and justifications on which they were based.”

Netanyahu Criticises Britain and France

Britain and France were among the countries Netanyahu criticised during his address. Both governments have become increasingly critical of Israel and have introduced limited sanctions involving Israeli exports from the occupied West Bank.

Netanyahu also criticised French President Emmanuel Macron over comments made during Macron’s own UN address concerning Hamas and the West Bank.

Addressing criticism that Israel is engaging in colonialism, Netanyahu pointed to the historical colonial roles of Britain and France.

“They accuse Israel, tiny Israel, of colonialism — some colonialism. And who’s accusing us? Among them are people in Britain and in France. For God’s sakes, they invented the term,” he said.

Relations between Netanyahu and Macron have been strained, particularly after Macron supported an international effort at the previous UN General Assembly to recognise a Palestinian state.

Iran Comes Under Strong Criticism

Iran was another major focus of Netanyahu’s address. He referred to Iran as a “murderous dictatorship” and argued that military action by Israel and the United States had prevented Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

“I vowed to prevent Iran’s murderous dictatorship from developing atomic bombs, nuclear weapons aimed at destroying Israel, nuclear weapons that could threaten the entire world,” he said.

Netanyahu also suggested that Iran’s leadership could eventually fall, saying its collapse was not “far.”

Iran’s government, however, has continued to maintain control despite the conflict and has continued to challenge US pressure, including through its effective control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Netanyahu Displays Pager During UN Speech

During his address, Netanyahu also displayed a pager similar to devices that Israeli intelligence reportedly equipped with explosives before they were delivered to operatives of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant organisation.

The devices were subsequently detonated, injuring hundreds of Hezbollah members as well as civilian bystanders.

Netanyahu also accused Turkey of supporting Hamas and described Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a “tyrant.”

Burhanettin Duran, communications director for the Turkish presidency, rejected Netanyahu’s remarks as “baseless accusations” that were “incompatible” with the principles of the United Nations, according to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency.

Netanyahu’s appearance in New York was brief, with the Israeli prime minister expected to return to Israel as his country’s election campaign continues. He was not scheduled to hold meetings with senior US leaders during the visit.