The entire Surinamese delegation walked out of the conference room right before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was about to give his speech last Thursday. This is a clear sign that Suriname joined dozens of United Nations delegates left the room in support of Palestine as the Israeli prime minister prepared to begin his address to the general assembly. After a long time Suriname has finally sent a strong diplomatic message on the world stage. These past couple of years the Surinamese government has often been criticized for its weak and modest stance. The joint campaign at the UN General Assembly was aimed against Israel’s actions in Gaza and the broad military escalation in the Middle East. Delegations from nearly 70 countries walked out of the UN General Assembly hall or left their seats vacant Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address, staging a mass protest over Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its attacks across the region. Reports indicate that about 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries also joined the mass walkout. The walkout left large sections of the General Assembly chamber visibly empty as Netanyahu continued his address.

 Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas,

Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana,

Saint Lucia and Suriname exited the conference room collectively.

In the speech that President Jennifer Simons gave at the general assembly she put the spotlight on Cuba, Haiti and the interests of the Caribbean.