Erdogan urges UNGA to use force amid ongoing Israeli war on Gaza

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Oct 2024 11:35
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The Turkish president calls on the United Nations General Assembly to implement the 1950 Uniting for Peace Resolution amid the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Strip.

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Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, at UN headquarters. (AP)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the UN General Assembly to promptly advocate for the use of force in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Palestinian enclave, referencing the 1950 Uniting for Peace Resolution.

The resolution, adopted in November 1950, allows the General Assembly to issue recommendations for collective measures, including the potential use of armed force, when the Security Council is unable to act due to a lack of consensus among its five permanent members.

"A handful of radical Zionists, blinded by blood and hatred, are setting the region and the whole world on fire. We will never consent to this cruelty and barbarism," Erdogan indicated, following a Cabinet meeting in Ankara on Monday, about the continued Israeli aggression on Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Lebanon.

In his address to the General Assembly last week, the Turkish President pointed to "Israel’s" genocidal actions against the people of Gaza.

He also reiterated that global peace and security should not be determined by the five privileged nations that hold permanent seats on the UN Security Council.

Erdogan noted during the UN General Assembly that "Israel" escalated its attacks on Lebanon, killing more than 1,000 people, including children, in the past two weeks.

Since September 23, Israeli occupation forces have launched a massive aggression on Lebanon, conducting extensive airstrikes across the country, especially its South and East, as well as the Southern Suburb of the capital Beirut, where Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated.

Erdogan affirmed his country's steadfast support for Lebanon, stating, "I clearly stated in my meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister (Najib) Mikati that Turkiye stands firmly by their side."

"As a result of Israel's attacks, which do not distinguish between civilians and military personnel, the needs of our Lebanese brothers are growing dramatically," the Turkish leader underscored, adding that many have been displaced due to the aggression.

According to Erdogan, Turkish civil society groups "are on the ground despite the difficult conditions, doing everything they can (to deliver) humanitarian aid. We have also stepped up our diplomatic efforts to stop Israel's attacks."

The Turkish President underlined that "the international community can no longer remain silent in the face of this criminality by Israel, which is setting the entire region on fire."

"Islamic countries should have the biggest reaction to oppression in the Gaza, West Bank, and Lebanon. As Muslims, we need to lead the world in curbing oppression," he urged.

He expressed regret over the lack of economic, commercial, or diplomatic actions from the global community to compel "Israel" to accept a ceasefire deal.

"Today, Israel sows seeds of enmity that will last for generations with its massacre policies, and those who support it are complicit in this crime," Erdogan asserted, adding that "with its escalating state terrorism, Israel is not only undermining faith in international law but also damaging the reputation of the countries that support it."

Regarding Turkish humanitarian aid to Lebanon, he confirmed that Turkiye has so far delivered 30 tons of humanitarian aid to Lebanon and will continue these efforts as long as security conditions allow.