Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his government's conduct of the Gaza war at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sunday, as dozens of delegates walked out in protest. The walkout left large sections of the chamber empty.

Netanyahu's speech came days after France, Britain and other Western governments formally recognised a Palestinian state, a move President Donald Trump condemned during the high-level debate week. Israeli officials had signalled the prime minister would use the platform to reject those recognitions as a reward for Hamas.

In his remarks, Netanyahu dismissed accusations of genocide levelled against Israel, echoing arguments that the term was being weaponised against the Jewish people. He said Israel would continue military operations until its hostages were returned and Hamas dismantled, according to the prepared text.

Palestinian and Arab delegations, along with representatives from several European and Latin American states, left their seats as Netanyahu began speaking. The Palestinian Authority's UN mission had urged member states to register opposition to what it called Israel's defiance of international consensus.

The address deepened Israel's diplomatic isolation at the world body, where a majority of members now recognise Palestinian statehood. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, both of which have accused Israel of genocide, issued statements condemning the speech.

"The world has spoken, and Israel stands alone in denial," said Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, in remarks to reporters outside the chamber.