Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a fiery speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, denouncing recent moves by Western nations to recognize a Palestinian state.

Calling the recognition efforts a “mark of shame” that signal “murdering Jews pays off,” Netanyahu drew sharp backlash as dozens of diplomats and officials walked out of the chamber, leaving swathes of seats empty. Outside, protesters in Times Square rallied against Israel’s war in Gaza.

The address came at a time of mounting global criticism over Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which this week prompted the UK, France, Canada, Australia, and several other nations to formally recognize Palestinian statehood.

Netanyahu opened his remarks with a map labeled “The Curse,” which he said depicted Iranian proxy groups across the Middle East. He praised Israeli military operations over the past year targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza, and Iran.

He also thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for supporting American airstrikes on Iran’s Fordo nuclear site in June. Drawing parallels between Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault on Israel and the September 11 attacks on the U.S., Netanyahu insisted the two nations face the same threats, citing chants of “death to America” from groups aligned with Iran.

The speech underscored Israel’s isolation at the UN and deepened global divisions over the Gaza conflict and Palestinian recognition.