Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2026, as dozens of delegates left the chamber or were not present. The protest was linked to opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza.
Which countries’ seats were empty?
Coverage of the assembly showed empty seats associated with delegations including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Algeria, Malaysia, Montenegro and Kyrgyzstan. Empty seats alone do not establish that every member of those delegations walked out; some representatives may have been absent or remained elsewhere.
No complete official roll call
The visible departures drew attention, but no comprehensive official country-by-country record of who left during the address was available. Counts circulating after the speech also risk combining delegations that exited with those whose seats were already empty. The safest conclusion is that dozens of countries’ delegations walked out or were absent, rather than treating any larger tally as a confirmed list.
A protest amid criticism over Gaza
The walkout came as Israel faced mounting criticism at the assembly over its military campaign in Gaza. Netanyahu used the speech to defend Israel’s actions and attack critics, including Türkiye and Qatar. The reaction inside the hall underscored the diplomatic tensions surrounding the war and the widening divide between Israel and many international delegations.
What the footage can confirm
Images and video can show rows of empty seats and people leaving the chamber, but they cannot by themselves confirm every country’s delegation or the reason each person was absent. A precise country list should therefore be treated cautiously unless supported by a verified roll call.
