Maldives among nations which boycotted Netanyahu’s UN address

The Maldives was among the countries that walked out of the United Nations General Assembly as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium, effectively boycotting his address.

As Netanyahu began his speech at the UN Headquarters in New York, numerous national delegations voiced their opposition before leaving the chamber. The mass walkout left much of the assembly hall empty, prompting the presiding chair to repeatedly call for order. The collective protest echoed a similar boycott carried out by the Maldives and other countries during Netanyahu’s address to the UN the previous year.

Responding to the mass departure, Netanyahu adopted a defiant tone, criticizing the diplomats who had left the chamber, calling them cowards and challenging those who remained to leave if they wished.

The Maldives joined Member States in walking out, ahead of Israel’s address at the #UNGA81 General Debate, in solidarity with Palestine, and our commitment to international law, justice, and the rights of the Palestinian people.#MDVatUNGA81 pic.twitter.com/gzVkupllZ0

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs ???????? (@MoFAmv) September 25, 2026

Netanyahu delivered his address as he campaigned to retain power ahead of Israel’s elections scheduled for October 27. He claimed that Israel was currently engaged in conflict on seven fronts—including Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, and Iraq—and asserted that Israel would prevail in these confrontations.

Netanyahu also launched sharp criticism and allegations against Türkiye and its President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In a subsequent statement, the Turkish presidency said that no rhetoric from Netanyahu—for whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants over alleged war crimes—could obscure what it described as the genocide taking place in Gaza. Erdoğan had previously addressed the UN, describing Israel’s actions as state terrorism and referring to Gaza as the world’s largest open-air prison.

Netanyahu further criticized the United Kingdom and France over their opposition to Israeli policies. At the same time, he expressed appreciation for American support, highlighting joint efforts with the United States to target Iranian nuclear facilities and describing the decision as one of the most straightforward decisions of his administration.

The strong response from the international community at the UN General Assembly comes as the Maldives continues to advocate for the Palestinian cause on the global stage, consistently condemning what it describes as Israel’s inhumane aggression and atrocities against the Palestinian people.