Diplomatic Protest During Israeli President’s Speech: Reports Say 13 of 28 Delegations Walked Out at Asian Summit

October 16, 2026

Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address at the seventh summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 15 was met with a diplomatic protest, as representatives of several countries reportedly left the conference hall. Multiple media outlets reported that delegates from 13 of the 28 official delegations walked out, drawing international attention and highlighting the continuing impact of the Middle East conflict on diplomatic relations.

Delegations Leave as Herzog Begins His Address

According to media reports, Iran’s delegation was the first to leave as Herzog began speaking. Delegations from Palestine, Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Iraq, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh were also reported to have walked out.

The action was widely described as a collective diplomatic protest against Israeli government policies. The departing representatives were reported to be expressing opposition to Israel’s participation in an international forum amid continuing regional conflict.

However, media accounts differed over the number and identity of the delegations that left. Some Israeli outlets confirmed that representatives from Iran, Türkiye, Kuwait, Pakistan and the Palestinian Authority walked out, while reporting different accounts of the other delegations. Qatar was a particular point of disagreement: some reports said its delegation left, while others said Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani remained in the hall and listened to Herzog’s speech.

The widely circulated figure of 13 delegations should therefore be understood in the context of these differing accounts.

Summit Focuses on Cooperation Amid Visible Diplomatic Divisions

CICA aims to promote dialogue, confidence-building and security cooperation among Asian countries. Its participants include representatives from across Asia and the Middle East.

During his visit to Azerbaijan, Herzog also met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and other officials to discuss bilateral relations and strategic cooperation. The walkout during his address drew attention to the political divisions affecting the summit and Israel’s strained relations with several participating countries.

A walkout is a symbolic form of diplomatic protest. It allows representatives to demonstrate opposition publicly without necessarily disrupting the entire meeting. However, such an action does not automatically mean that a country has announced a new foreign policy or formally severed diplomatic relations.

Middle East Conflict Deepens International Divisions

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, Israel’s military operations and regional security policies have faced criticism from various governments and international organisations. Some countries have emphasised the humanitarian situation facing Palestinian civilians and called for civilian protection, expanded humanitarian assistance and a political settlement. The Israeli government, meanwhile, has defended its policies on the grounds of national security and the need to counter armed groups.

Against this backdrop, public protests at international meetings illustrate how the conflict has extended beyond the battlefield and into multilateral diplomacy.

Countries continue to differ over responsibility for the conflict, ceasefire arrangements, regional security and diplomatic engagement. These differences have made it difficult for the international community to establish a unified position.

Long-Term Diplomatic Consequences Remain Unclear

The walkout took place amid strained relations between Israel and several countries. While the protest increased international attention on their positions, it remains unclear whether the incident will materially affect bilateral relations, cooperation at the summit or future diplomatic contacts.

Such incidents can serve several purposes: they communicate political opposition, generate public pressure and signal dissatisfaction with another government’s policies. At the same time, diplomatic channels and multilateral institutions may continue functioning despite visible disagreements.

The protest during Herzog’s address underscores the continuing influence of the Middle East conflict on international diplomacy. The precise number of delegations involved and their identities should be assessed against official statements and independently corroborated accounts from the event.