The Maldivian delegation, along with delegations from many other countries, walked out of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium to deliver his address.

The delegations rose from their seats and left the hall in protest against what they described as the genocide Israel is carrying out in Gaza. As a result, Netanyahu delivered his speech to a largely empty chamber.

The decision to give Netanyahu a platform to speak at the session had also drawn widespread criticism.

More than 73,000 people have been killed in Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza so far.