Netanyahu praises Uganda in UN Assembly speech amid delegates walk-out

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heaped praise on Uganda at the United Nations General Assembly for erecting a monument to his elder brother, Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu, at Entebbe Airport.

Netanyahu made the remarks on Thursday, September 24, 2026, as he addressed a largely empty UN General Assembly hall in New York. 

Scores of delegates walked out as he took to the podium amid protests over Israel's conduct in Gaza and other regional conflicts.

During the speech, Netanyahu recalled the July 1976 Israeli operation at Entebbe Airport in which commandos rescued more than 100 hostages from a hijacked Air France aircraft.

“My brother, the commander of the storming party was the only soldier killed in this mission. I want to thank Uganda again for recently erecting a statue of Yoni in the place where he fell,” Netanyahu said.

Yoni commanded the Israeli assault force during the raid and was the only Israeli soldier killed in the operation.

The monument was unveiled at the Old Entebbe Airport terminal on August 1 by Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as Uganda marked 50 years since the raid.

Gen Kainerugaba had announced plans for the monument in February, saying it would be placed at the spot where Yoni was killed and that the gesture was intended to strengthen relations between Uganda and Israel.

The bronze statue depicts Yoni carrying a rifle. It was created by Israeli artist Itay Zalait, who began his military service in the elite Israeli unit once commanded by Yoni.

Netanyahu's praise of Uganda came against the backdrop of a striking diplomatic protest inside the UN chamber.

Delegates began leaving when the Israeli leader approached the podium. There were also boos and cheers, forcing the president of the General Assembly to repeatedly call for order. A majority of visible seats were empty after the walkout.

Netanyahu responded by describing those leaving as “moral cowards” and invited any others who wanted to leave to do so.

Netanyahu used his address to reject accusations of genocide and defend Israel's military campaigns, including its actions against Hamas and Iran.

His reference to Entebbe came as he recalled words he said his brother had spoken before the 1967 Six-Day War: “We're going to win. We have no other choice.”

Netanyahu used the same phrase to frame Israel's current conflicts, saying his brother's words remained relevant more than half a century later.