03.06.2026 15:11
Israeli diplomat Waleed Gadban, who voiced Israel's objection to Palestine's membership at the International Labour Organization (ILO) conference in Geneva, was protested by Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan, the Turkish delegation, and many officials present in the hall. Due to the protests, which included banging on tables and waving the Palestinian flag, the Israeli official was unable to complete his speech.
The 114th International Labour Conference of the United Nations (UN) International Labour Organization (ILO) has started in Geneva, Switzerland. The conference brought together worker, employer, and government representatives from 187 ILO member states, addressing issues shaping the world of work.
PALESTINE'S MEMBERSHIP ACCEPTED BY OVERWHELMING MAJORITY
At the conference, the vote initiated by Israel, with the support of the US and Argentina, to annul Palestine's provisional membership in the ILO was conducted by the ILO General Assembly. Palestine's membership was accepted by an overwhelming majority as a result of the vote in the general assembly. Israel's objection regarding the procedure of this vote was rejected.
ISRAELI OFFICIAL'S SPEECH PROTESTED
Following this, the speech of the Israeli diplomat who took the floor was protested by Waleed Gadban's speech, as well as by government, worker, and employer representatives from other countries present at the conference. Gadban's speech was interrupted by attendees banging on tables and unfurling Palestinian flags.
MINISTER IŞIKHAN AND THE TURKISH DELEGATION ALSO JOINED THE PROTEST
The Turkish delegation also protested the speech of Israeli Gadban. Representing Turkey at the conference, Minister of Labour and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan, along with HAK-İŞ President Mahmut Arslan, Memur-Sen President Ali Yalçın, Türkiye Kamu-Sen President Önder Kahveci, and TİSK Secretary General Akansel Koç, protested Israel's stance towards Palestine by banging on tables during the Israeli official's speech.