Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday was marked by a mass boycott, with Israel reporting that 77 countries either skipped the session or walked out as he began speaking.
According to YNET, Israel released the list on Saturday, noting that the 41-minute speech was delivered to a visibly thinned audience. Among those absent were Israel’s immediate neighbours—Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria—as well as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran.
Some countries, including Jordan and Egypt, chose not to take their seats but did not participate in the coordinated walkout. Pakistan’s delegation left the hall in protest but remained at the sidelines to listen, Israeli officials said.
By contrast, envoys from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, both signatories to the 2020 Abraham Accords, stayed throughout Netanyahu’s remarks, despite tensions over the Gaza war.
International media highlighted the largely empty chamber during the speech, with coverage focusing on the boycott rather than Netanyahu’s remarks, which included a vow to “finish the job” against Hamas.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, reacted to the protest online, describing Israel as “the most despised and isolated regime.”
The countries listed as absent or walking out included The countries that walked out or were absent included Egypt, Suriname, Tuvalu, Turkmenistan, Yemen, Egypt, Panama, Senegal, Palestine, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey, Venezuela, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Congo, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tonga, Uzbekistan, Angola, Barbados, Colombia, Comoros, Dominica, Djibouti, North Macedonia, San Marino, South Africa, Somalia, and Algeria.
Others are Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Brazil, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lebanon, Liberia, Eritrea, Chad, Central African, Republic, Libya, Mauritania, Jordan, Nicaragua, Madagascar, Niger, Peru, Saint Lucia, Slovenia, Afghanistan, Bahamas, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, North Korea, Eswatini, Syria, Uganda, Pakistan, Lesotho, Bolivia, Spain, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, Mozambique, Myanmar, Ireland, Maldives, Indonesia, Kuwait, Namibia, Malaysia, Guyana and Kenya.
Israel said the boycott underscored its growing diplomatic isolation as the war in Gaza, which has left tens of thousands dead and displaced millions, continues to draw international criticism.
Gaza: Israel lists 77 countries that boycotted PM Netanyahu’s UN speech