Mass walkout before Netanyahu speech prompts fiery response from Israeli prime minister

United Nations delegates streamed out of the General Assembly chamber in New York City on Thursday just before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium, and he responded by mocking those who left. Once on stage, he opened by saying, "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," prompting cheers from the delegates who stayed, according to Fox News.

Netanyahu devoted much of his remarks to defending Israel's strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, calling the operation difficult to carry out but describing the decision itself as "one of the easiest decisions I've ever had to make as prime minister," warning that Israel would otherwise have faced destruction. He argued that Israel's action had also shielded many of the countries whose delegates had just walked out, claiming several leaders had privately thanked Israel for destroying Iran's nuclear program. He called the walkout an example of "mind blowing hypocrisy."

The scene played out amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East and continued criticism of Israel's actions in the region. In addition to the walkout inside the chamber, demonstrators gathered outside United Nations headquarters, among them actors Elliot Page and Susan Sarandon.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →