Iceland FM hits back at Netanyahu over ‘moral cowards’ UNGA remark

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Published: 2026-09-27T09:15:34.041Z • Permanent link

Iceland's Foreign Minister, Thórgerður Tómasdóttir, has fired back at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his criticism of Iceland for hosting a protest against Israel's actions in Palestine. The exchange took place during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York last week, where Netanyahu made a comment that Tómasdóttir deemed "unacceptable" and "hypocritical". The incident has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many praising Iceland's stance and others criticizing the country for being "moral cowards".

Netanyahu's comments were in response to Iceland's decision to host a protest against Israel's actions in Palestine, which was organized by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and other human rights groups. The protest was aimed at raising awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and calling for an end to the violence. Netanyahu claimed that Iceland was being "influenced" by the NRC and other organizations that he accused of being "anti-Israel".

Tómasdóttir responded to Netanyahu's comments by stating that Iceland's decision to host the protest was "based on our values of human rights and democracy". She also criticized Netanyahu's actions, saying that his comments were "unacceptable" and "hypocritical". The exchange has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many praising Iceland's stance and others criticizing the country for being "moral cowards".

Iceland's decision to host the protest against Israel's actions in Palestine has significant implications for the global infrastructure sector. Many companies that operate in Iceland, such as the country's largest bank, Landsbankinn, have operations in Israel and may be affected by the country's policies. The incident also highlights the growing tensions between Israel and its critics, which could impact global markets and trade. Research communities and academic institutions may also be affected, as the incident raises questions about the role of human rights and democracy in international relations.

The incident also highlights the importance of Iceland's unique position in the global economy. As a small island nation with a highly developed economy, Iceland is often seen as a leader in terms of innovation and technology. The country's decision to host the protest against Israel's actions in Palestine may be seen as a demonstration of its commitment to human rights and democracy, and could have a positive impact on its international reputation. On the other hand, the incident could also damage Iceland's relationships with Israel and other countries that have close economic ties with the country.

Iceland's decision to host the protest against Israel's actions in Palestine is part of a larger pattern of tensions between Israel and its critics. In recent years, there have been several high-profile incidents, including the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which has been criticized by Israel and its supporters. The incident also highlights the growing tensions between Israel and its critics, which could impact global markets and trade. Research communities and academic institutions may also be affected, as the incident raises questions about the role of human rights and democracy in international relations.