Turkish minister proud of boldly walking out of UN to protest Israel

Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas protested against Israel’s ‘genocide’ in Gaza by walking out during May Golan’s speech at the U.N. Commission on Status of Women’s 68th session

At the 68th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York, Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas, the Minister of Family and Social Services, made a powerful statement by walking out during the speech of May Golan, Israel’s Minister for Social Equality and the Advancement of Women.

“There’s no point in staying there to listen to them. We cannot tolerate their defense and lies about what they call genocide. We had to show our reaction by leaving the room,” Goktas asserted.

She stressed the inadequacy of the Israeli narrative regarding the impact on women and children and emphasized the need to oppose injustice actively.

This action at the U.N. session caught significant attention, with Goktas revealing: “Several ministers from different countries congratulated us on our stance.”

She further reinforced Türkiye’s support for Palestine under President Erdogan’s leadership, stating: “Türkiye has always stood with Palestine, and we will continue to do so. In our speech at the UN, we stressed the necessity of international action against this massacre and the urgency for a cease-fire.”

During her week at the U.N., Goktas engaged in numerous bilateral discussions and participated in side events.

She was active in a panel focused on the impact of conflicts on women and girls, featuring representatives from Qatar, Palestine, Ukraine, and U.N. officials.

On the Gaza conflict’s impact, Goktas remarked: “It’s a visible genocide against women and children, and the global response has been ineffective.”

Through her protest and statements, Goktas has brought renewed focus to the Israel-Palestine conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, highlighting Türkiye’s firm stance on these critical international issues.

Source: Newsroom