Manila, Philippines – Several video shows foreign delegations walking out during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 24.
Many diplomatic officials from various countries walked out of the assembly hall as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the international community.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Philippine delegation was among those who walked out.
In a statement, the DFA expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel.
This coincided with calls for Israel to halt the E1 settlement plan and to continue efforts to stop the violence in the West Bank.
These are among the factors complicating the achievement of a comprehensive solution to the conflict in the Middle East.
Manila also maintains its opposition to unilateral actions that undermine the conditions for peace and reiterates its support for a two-state solution as a possible path to peace in the region.
Prior to Netanyahu’s UNGA speech, the Palestinian Mission to the UN called on member states to leave the assembly hall when the Israeli leader was introduced.
This was done to protest what they termed as genocide, war crimes, and illegal occupation by Israel.
A week before Netanyahu’s UN address, the DFA issued a statement calling for a halt to the E1 plan and the continued upholding of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.—Alvin Pelobello, Eurotv News