Surrounded by critics and protesters at the United Nations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told fellow world leaders on Friday that his nation “must finish the job” against Hamas in Gaza, giving a defiant speech despite growing international isolation over his refusal to end the devastating war.

Netanyahu's speech, aimed as much at his increasingly divided domestic audience as the global one, began after dozens of delegates from multiple nations walked out of the U.N. General Assembly hall en masse Friday morning as he began.

In recent days, Australia, Canada, France, the United Kingdom and others announced their recognition of an independent Palestinian state.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas addressed the General Assembly via video on Thursday after the U.S. denied him a visa. He welcomed the recent announcements of recognition but said the world needs to do more.