At least 28 African nations were among the 77 delegations that walked out or were absent from the hall as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly.

They included South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Sudan, Senegal, Kenya, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Eritrea, Uganda and more, spanning every region of the continent.

The mass departure was organised by Palestinian representatives, who said they wanted to send a clear message that no one should "aid, abet, or be complicit in genocide, war crimes and illegal occupation."

The figure of 77 comes from Israel's own tally, and officials acknowledged it mixed deliberate walkouts with delegations that were simply not present for the session.

Rows of empty seats became one of the defining images of this year's assembly, underscoring Israel's deepening isolation over the war in Gaza.