Baku, October 17, 2026 (Ghufran): Delegates from 10 countries staged a walkout during Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address at the summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), held in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku. According to international media reports citing the Palestine Information Center, the protest began as soon as Herzog started his speech, reflecting strong political opposition to the participation of an Israeli official amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his delegation reportedly left the hall, while representatives of several other countries also boycotted the address. Azerbaijan is hosting the summit as the current chair of CICA, a 28-member forum established to promote dialogue and cooperation among Asian countries. Its member states account for approximately 90 per cent of Asia’s territory and more than half of the world’s population. Türkiye is among the organisation’s founding members and hosted its third summit in Istanbul in 2010, subsequently holding the rotating chairmanship from 2010 to 2014. The walkout came amid mounting international criticism of Israel over the devastating war in Gaza, which has resulted in thousands of Palestinian deaths and injuries and widespread destruction of homes, hospitals, schools and other essential infrastructure. Restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid and medical supplies have further intensified concerns about the humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, legal proceedings and allegations concerning violations of international law have placed Israel under growing scrutiny at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. Protests in various countries around the world have also continued, with demonstrators demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and accountability for those responsible for abuses against Palestinians.