President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the Extraordinary Joint Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League, held in Riyadh. The summit featured several noteworthy moments, with one of the most striking being Erdoğan’s departure from the hall during the speech of Syrian President Bashar al Assad.
At the summit, President Erdoğan addressed the assembled leaders, calling on Muslim nations to unite against Israel’s attacks. He stated, “We are prepared to take any concrete and realistic steps that will show the Netanyahu government that occupation comes with a price.”
The primary goal of the summit was to foster a unified stance among Arab and Islamic countries, thereby increasing international pressure on Israel.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman delivered the opening speech, condemning Israel’s attacks in strong terms. He urged the Tel Aviv administration to halt its aggressions in Gaza and Lebanon.
Erdoğan Criticizes Western Support for Israel
In his remarks, Erdoğan criticized Western countries for providing political and military support to Israel, which has led to severe violence in Gaza. He emphasized that the lack of sufficient response from Muslim countries has exacerbated the crisis on the ground. Additionally, Erdoğan mentioned that Turkey has implemented trade restrictions against Israel, reiterating Turkey’s readiness to pursue “all concrete and realistic actions” against Israel’s policies.
Erdoğan Exiting During The Speech of Assad Draws Attention
Erdoğan also highlighted the importance of encouraging more countries to formally recognize Palestine. Another notable moment occurred during the summit when Erdoğan left the hall while Syrian President Bashar al Assad was speaking, a move that attracted considerable attention.