United Nations, 25 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel’s actions in the region during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, while dozens of delegates walked out in protest. Netanyahu criticised international condemnation of Israel over the Gaza war and rejected allegations that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians, saying Israel had acted to prevent genocide. He also criticised New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Western European leaders, Qatar and Türkiye over their positions on Israel, while accusing Mamdani of supporting Hamas, a claim Mamdani has denied. Mamdani responded by accusing Netanyahu of using his speech to repeat what he called false claims and noted that the Israeli prime minister is subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity. Qatar also rejected Netanyahu’s accusations, saying his statements sought to divert attention from policies on the ground. Netanyahu’s address came less than five weeks before Israel’s October 27 general election and focused on what he described as the country’s security challenges on multiple fronts, including the conflict with Iran. Several hundred protesters gathered near the United Nations headquarters in New York, with police detaining some demonstrators. Netanyahu also praised US President Donald Trump for his support of Israel. His speech came amid continued international criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and growing diplomatic tensions over Israeli settlements and violence in the occupied West Bank.