Delegates from several countries walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address on Thursday, as he used the speech to defend Israel’s military strikes on Iran.

Netanyahu addressed the 81st UN General Assembly in New York amid heightened international criticism of Israel over its military operations in Gaza and the wider Middle East conflict.

As he took the podium, several delegations left the hall while supporters in the public gallery applauded and chanted in support of the Israeli leader, according to reports from the UN session.

Netanyahu nevertheless proceeded with his address, using much of his remarks to defend Israel’s decision to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.

“Devastating Iran’s nuclear facilities was hard. It was very hard to do. But for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make as prime minister,” Netanyahu said.

“Because if we hadn’t done it, we’d all be dead,” he added.

Netanyahu said he had pledged more than a decade ago to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and argued that Israel had fulfilled that commitment through its military operations against Tehran.

“14 years ago, I vowed to prevent Iran’s murderous dictatorship from developing atomic bombs,” he said. “That’s exactly what we did.”

The Israeli prime minister also claimed that Israel’s actions against Iran had protected countries beyond its borders.

“Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall,” Netanyahu said.

He claimed that some foreign leaders had privately thanked Israel for destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“In fact, I want you to know that many of their leaders even thank us privately for taking out Iran’s nukes,” he said.

Netanyahu’s appearance came amid growing diplomatic pressure on Israel over the Gaza war and its broader military actions in the region.

Reuters reported ahead of the speech that Netanyahu’s visit to New York reflected strained relations with several traditional partners and that his unusually brief trip included no planned meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Iran has rejected accusations that it is seeking nuclear weapons and has maintained that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.

Netanyahu has continued to argue that military action was necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, while Tehran has rejected Israel’s justification for the strikes.

Delegates from several countries walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address on Thursday, as he used the speech to defend Israel’s military strikes on Iran.

Netanyahu addressed the 81st UN General Assembly in New York amid heightened international criticism of Israel over its military operations in Gaza and the wider Middle East conflict.

As he took the podium, several delegations left the hall while supporters in the public gallery applauded and chanted in support of the Israeli leader, according to reports from the UN session.

Netanyahu nevertheless proceeded with his address, using much of his remarks to defend Israel’s decision to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.

“Devastating Iran’s nuclear facilities was hard. It was very hard to do. But for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make as prime minister,” Netanyahu said.

“Because if we hadn’t done it, we’d all be dead,” he added.

Netanyahu said he had pledged more than a decade ago to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and argued that Israel had fulfilled that commitment through its military operations against Tehran.

“14 years ago, I vowed to prevent Iran’s murderous dictatorship from developing atomic bombs,” he said. “That’s exactly what we did.”

The Israeli prime minister also claimed that Israel’s actions against Iran had protected countries beyond its borders.

“Israel is also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall,” Netanyahu said.

He claimed that some foreign leaders had privately thanked Israel for destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“In fact, I want you to know that many of their leaders even thank us privately for taking out Iran’s nukes,” he said.

Netanyahu’s appearance came amid growing diplomatic pressure on Israel over the Gaza war and its broader military actions in the region.

Reuters reported ahead of the speech that Netanyahu’s visit to New York reflected strained relations with several traditional partners and that his unusually brief trip included no planned meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Iran has rejected accusations that it is seeking nuclear weapons and has maintained that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.

Netanyahu has continued to argue that military action was necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, while Tehran has rejected Israel’s justification for the strikes.