New York, United States – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Sunday — but much of the world wasn’t listening.
According to Israeli sources, representatives from 77 countries were absent from the hall during his address, including Somalia, which joined a growing bloc of nations opting out in protest over Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
Some delegations staged coordinated walkouts as Netanyahu took the podium, while others — like Somalia — chose not to enter the chamber at all, signaling silent disapproval rather than direct confrontation.
Netanyahu used much of his speech to defend Israel’s actions and attack international critics. But the visibly sparse audience cast a shadow over his message, turning the moment into a stark diplomatic tableau: one leader speaking, most of the world watching from elsewhere.
Somalia’s inclusion among the absentees is notable, as Mogadishu has historically maintained a low-profile stance on Israel-Palestine diplomacy. Its decision to join the boycott reflects a widening alignment across African and Muslim-majority nations in support of Palestinian rights — even among countries without formal ties to Israel.
The protest marks one of the largest collective no-shows to an Israeli UN speech in recent years, highlighting growing global impatience with the stalled peace process and mounting civilian casualties in Gaza.
While Israel did not publicly comment on the scale of the absence, the empty seats spoke louder than any official statement.