Sri Lanka was among the countries whose representatives left the UN General Assembly chamber as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address, joining a wider walkout by dozens of delegations.
Sri Lankan delegates were among a large group of representatives who walked out of the United Nations General Assembly chamber as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address in New York on Thursday.
The walkout was visible as Netanyahu approached the podium for his speech during the 81st session of the General Assembly. International reports and photographs from the chamber showed empty seats belonging to a number of countries, including Sri Lanka.
The departure was not limited to Sri Lanka. Delegations from countries including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Algeria, Tunisia, Sudan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and others were also reported to have left the chamber.
The exact number of countries whose representatives participated in the walkout has not been formally confirmed by the United Nations. Reports described the action as involving dozens of envoys, while photographs from the chamber showed representatives leaving as Netanyahu took the floor.
A planned diplomatic protest
The walkout followed a call circulated by the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations asking member-state delegations to leave the General Assembly hall when Netanyahu was announced.
According to reports, the Palestinian Mission urged governments to bring staff into the hall and collectively leave once the Israeli prime minister began speaking. The action was presented as a protest over Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel rejects allegations that it has committed genocide or war crimes and has repeatedly said that its military campaign is directed at Hamas and is necessary for Israel’s security.
The walkout therefore became part of a broader diplomatic confrontation that has played out throughout this year’s General Assembly, with governments using their speeches and presence at the UN to state differing positions on the Gaza war and the wider conflict.
Netanyahu responds from the podium
Netanyahu did not ignore the departures. He directly addressed the representatives who had left and described them as “moral cowards”.
He also challenged the remaining delegates in the chamber to leave if they did not want to hear his address.
Members of the Israeli delegation remained in the chamber and applauded the prime minister. The president of the General Assembly, Khalilur Rahman, repeatedly called for order as the atmosphere became increasingly noisy.
Netanyahu used the speech to defend Israel’s military actions, criticise Iran and attack international criticism of Israel. He also criticised governments and political figures in Europe and the United States who have accused Israel of serious violations in its conduct of the war.
Where Sri Lanka fits into the wider walkout
Sri Lanka’s presence among the delegations leaving the chamber places it alongside a broad group of countries that chose not to remain for Netanyahu’s address.
However, the walkout itself should not be read as evidence of a new Sri Lankan policy unless the Sri Lankan Government separately confirms the reasoning behind the delegation’s action. The available reporting establishes that Sri Lankan representatives were among those who left the chamber, but it does not by itself establish an official statement explaining the decision.
Sri Lanka has previously expressed support for Palestinian statehood and has called for a negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The country’s position on international issues involving Palestine and Israel has also been expressed through its participation in United Nations proceedings.
For context, the Sri Lankan delegation’s departure came during a General Assembly session in which the conflict in the Middle East has been one of the major subjects of international debate.
Lakbima News has previously reported on Sri Lanka’s diplomatic positions on major international issues. Readers can also see our latest international coverage for related developments.
What happened inside the chamber
The Israeli prime minister begins his address as a large number of representatives leave their seats.
Images and international reports identify Sri Lanka among the countries whose representatives were no longer seated in the chamber.
The Israeli leader refers to those who left as “moral cowards” and tells any remaining delegates who disagree with him to leave as well.
Netanyahu’s delegation stays in the chamber and voices its support during the address.
A walkout, but not an empty UN
Despite the size of the walkout, Netanyahu’s speech was not delivered to an entirely empty chamber. Some delegations remained in their seats, while members of the Israeli delegation openly supported the prime minister during the address.
The episode nevertheless produced one of the most visible diplomatic protests of this year’s General Assembly and quickly drew international attention because representatives from countries across several regions left at roughly the same time.
For Sri Lanka, the significance is narrower but still notable: its representatives were visibly part of the group that departed as Netanyahu began speaking. Whether Colombo intends the gesture as a formal diplomatic message will depend on any subsequent statement from the Sri Lankan Government or Foreign Ministry.
