NEW YORK — Malaysia was among other countries to walk out in protest as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his speech at the 79th United Nations General Assembly.
The Malaysia delegation joined Indonesia, Kuwait, Iran, Pakistan and Cuba, among others, in leaving their seats as Netanyahu approached the podium to begin his address on September 27 local time, Bernama reports.
The atmosphere in the hall turned unsettling, with boos heard, as delegates stood up to vacate their seats, prompting assembly president Philemon Yang to appeal for order.
The countries that walked out are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League, and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which support the Palestinian cause, according to Bernama.
Malaysia was mentioned as one of the countries that walked out in a CNN news clip on Netanyahu speaking to a “largely empty chamber”.
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, was reported saying by New Straits Times that the countries which boycotted Netanyahu’s speech supported the decisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel’s crimes, and the UN Security Council’s resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“When Netanyahu entered the hall to begin his speech, everyone stood up and left.
“We, the Malaysian delegation, also left the hall,” NST quoted Mohamad as saying.
He added, Netanyahu was “arrogant” in his speech and belittled the role of the UN and its agencies.
In his speech at the assembly, Netanyahu vowed to continue Israel’s attacks on Iranian-backed fighters in Lebanon.
After airstrikes in the last 24 hours on the capital, Beirut, the Israel Defence Forces announced on X that it had killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, a move Middle East watchers fear will turn the Gaza war into a wider regional conflict. — September 28, 2024