Erdogan Criticizes Israel at UN; Israeli Delegation Walks Out

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his criticism of Israel during a speech at the UN General Assembly, prompting the entire Israeli delegation to walk out of the hall before he began speaking. Erdogan called on the international community to increase pressure on Israel and immediately begin the reconstruction of Gaza. He stated that attempts to pressure Palestinians are doomed to fail and expressed hope for an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Turkish leader also condemned the US decision not to grant a visa to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who addressed the General Assembly via video link for the second consecutive year. Erdogan pledged that Turkey would continue to advocate for the Palestinian people's struggle on the UN stage and urged other countries to recognize a Palestinian state. The walkout by the Israeli delegation was a notable moment, drawing parallels to previous instances where delegations, such as those from Iran and Cuba, left during speeches by then-US President Donald Trump. Attention now turns to the upcoming speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 24, which is expected to draw similar walkouts from representatives of some Arab and Muslim states. Netanyahu has stated his intention to use his UN address to defend Israel's actions and respond to criticism.