Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a forceful address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, sharply criticizing Israel over the Gaza war, the situation in the occupied West Bank and what he described as the international community’s failure to stop the escalating humanitarian crisis. The speech triggered a dramatic moment inside the UN hall as members of the Israeli delegation walked out while Erdogan was speaking. Palestinian representatives, meanwhile, applauded his remarks as the Turkish president called on countries that have not yet recognized Palestine to reconsider their position and urged greater international pressure on Israel. Erdogan also raised the absence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was denied a US visa for the second consecutive year and addressed the UN through a video statement instead. During the address, Erdogan described the Gaza situation in some of the strongest language yet used in his UN speeches, accusing Israel of what he called a “genocidal mindset” and condemning the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. He also criticized settler violence in the West Bank and called for immediate efforts to rebuild Gaza, while urging countries to increase pressure on Israel. Erdogan's remarks have added another major diplomatic confrontation to an already tense UNGA session. WATCH