77 Walk Out: What Netanyahu’s UNGA Moment Says About Israel and the World

Reports from this week’s UN General Assembly say 77 countries left the hall as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium to speak.

 

Israeli media has confirmed the total number – 77 – walked out. What is not yet fully confirmed is the exact breakdown of which countries.

 

 

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According to circulating reports, the walkout included:

 

Arab Countries – 18: Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia and Comoros.

 

Asia and Turkey – 14: Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Maldives, Myanmar, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

 

Non-Arab Africa – 20: South Africa, Senegal, Djibouti, Angola, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Eritrea, Chad, Central African Republic, Madagascar, Niger, Botswana, Uganda, Lesotho, Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Namibia and Kenya.

 

Latin America and the Caribbean – 17: Suriname, Panama, Venezuela, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Barbados, Colombia, Dominica, Nicaragua, Peru, Saint Lucia, Bahamas, Bolivia, Cuba, Guyana, Brazil and Chile.

 

Europe – 6: North Macedonia, San Marino, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Spain and Ireland.

 

Oceania – 2: Tuvalu and Tonga.

 

If the figure holds, it is more than a protest. It is a diplomatic signal.

 

You don’t get 77 delegations walking out at the same time by accident. That is frustration made visible. That is the world saying it is not happy about what is happening in Palestine.

 

For Israel, this should be a moment of reflection. Being right in your own eyes is not enough when you are increasingly isolated in the world’s most important hall. Alliances are tested not by applause, but by who stays to listen.

 

Israel obviously needs to work on its relationship with the world. The message from the empty chairs could not be clearer.