Before withdrawal.. Iranian delegation leaves Soleimani's image in Netanyahu's face (video)

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address at the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian representatives exited the hall, leaving behind an image of Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' "Quds Force," on their empty seats.

The disruption was not limited to the Iranian delegation; several international delegations collectively withdrew from the hall immediately after Netanyahu started speaking. This occurred amidst demonstrations in New York and sharp criticism regarding violations and Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

In response to the mass walkout, Netanyahu launched a scathing attack at the beginning of his speech, stating: "If there are any other moral cowards who have not yet left this room, let them leave now," according to his remarks.

The Israeli Prime Minister claimed that some countries whose representatives had withdrawn had secretly thanked Israel for its military actions against Tehran, adding: "Israel also defends many of the countries whose delegates just left this room... In fact, I want you to know that many of their leaders secretly thanked us for destroying Iran's nuclear weapons. It is hard to imagine more surprising hypocrisy, but this is exactly the reality."

Qasem Soleimani was considered one of the key architects of Iranian military influence in the Middle East until his death in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport on January 3, 2020, by direct orders from President Donald Trump during his first term, following Pentagon accusations that he planned attacks against US forces and the coalition.

The act of raising Soleimani's image inside the international hall is an extension of Tehran's strategy to emphasize the continuity of its military approach, at a time when UN corridors witness diplomatic ruptures and repeated protests against the Israeli delegation due to escalation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.