Turkish minister walks out of UN meeting during Israeli speech

The Turkish minister of family and social services stages a walkout during a speech by her Israeli counterpart at a UN meeting in New York on Monday

Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas left the 68th U.N. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the U.N. headquarters while Israeli Minister May Golan was delivering her address.

Upon returning to the hall following Golan’s speech, Goktas expressed her protest, stating, “When we discuss equality, we cannot turn a blind eye to the ongoing humanitarian crisis resulting from Israel’s actions toward Palestinians, which have caused immense human suffering.”

Türkiye strongly denounced the attacks in Gaza, renewing its appeal for an immediate cease-fire and swift, unimpeded humanitarian assistance, Goktas emphasized. She added that Ankara stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people, highlighting that 70% of those who have lost their lives are women and children.

“We must keep the continuous massacre in Palestine at the forefront of the global agenda and redouble our efforts to end this tragedy. It is essential that we unite in our shared sense of sorrow and ensure that our voices are heard louder and stronger,” she asserted.

Goktas also pointed out the significance of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325, considering it an “important milestone” in addressing the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflicts on women. She stressed the “vital” nature of implementing the resolution’s key provisions.

Israel initiated a deadly military campaign on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack on Oct. 7 by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, resulting in nearly 1,200 casualties.

Since then, over 31,100 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have lost their lives in Gaza, with more than 72,700 others injured amidst extensive destruction and shortages of essential supplies.

Source: Newsroom

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