Israeli diplomat forced to cut short address at UN Labour Conference in Geneva

An Israeli official was unable to complete his address at a United Nations international conference due to loud protests and disruptions from attendees, Anadolu reports.

Israeli diplomat Waleed Gadban took the floor during the General Assembly of the International Labour… pic.twitter.com/bFh5hoD08z

— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) June 3, 2026

An Israeli official was unable to complete his address at a United Nations international conference due to loud protests and disruptions from attendees, Anadolu reports.

Israeli diplomat Waleed Gadban took the floor during the General Assembly of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) 114th International Labour Conference. However, his remarks were cut short by widespread backlash from the audience.

Numerous government ministers, alongside trade union, worker, and employer representatives in the hall, began banging heavily on their tables to drown out Gadban’s speech.

Among those participating in the protest were Türkiye’s Labour and Social Security Minister Vedat Isikhan, the official Turkish delegation, and trade union representatives from Türkiye.

Conference security officers intervened during the demonstration to instruct some officials to lower Palestinian flags that had been unfurled in the hall.

Despite warnings from Juan Castillo, the President of the 114th International Labour Conference, the protests continued, and the floor was given to the next speaker before the Israeli official could finish his speech.

Some officials in the hall were seen wearing scarves with “Free Palestine” written on them.

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