New York, 23 September (H.S.):

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan strongly criticised Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank during a forceful address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, September 22. The remarks prompted the Israeli delegation to walk out of the chamber, while Palestinian representatives applauded Erdoğan’s speech.

Erdoğan raised concerns over what he described as continuing Israeli war crimes in Gaza, as well as increasing attacks and violence by settlers in the occupied West Bank.

According to Al Jazeera, Erdoğan said that, with the support of US President Donald Trump, efforts had contributed to a ceasefire. However, he claimed that more than 1,300 civilians had been killed in Gaza despite what he described as the ceasefire.

Erdoğan also said that Hamas and other Palestinian groups had accepted the second phase of an October ceasefire agreement, but accused Israel of continuing its military operations in Gaza.

“We are facing a genocidal mentality whose appetite for bloodshed is never satisfied,” Erdoğan said, adding that no person with humanity, compassion or a conscience could ignore the situation.

The Turkish president also criticised the United Nations, arguing that the organisation had failed to fulfil its responsibility to maintain peace and stability in conflict zones.

“Eighty-one years ago, the United Nations was established to maintain peace and stability in the world. Sadly, the UN has failed to fulfil its responsibility,” Erdoğan said.

He further argued that the UN had become ineffective, pointing to what he described as the organisation’s deteriorating situation in Palestine, Lebanon and Sudan.

Erdoğan also referred to the absence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from the UN General Assembly. Abbas was unable to attend after the United States reportedly declined to issue him a visa, marking the second such instance in two years.

“Although President Abbas is not here with us today, we recognise Palestine as a free and sovereign state and will continue to raise its voice,” Erdoğan said.

Turning to the war in Ukraine, Erdoğan called for an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He said Türkiye hoped the war could be brought to an end while preserving Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“Our sincere hope is that the Russia-Ukraine war will come to an end while preserving Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Erdoğan said.

Erdoğan’s address placed the conflicts in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Ukraine among the major international issues discussed during the UN General Assembly’s high-level session, while underscoring Türkiye’s position on Palestinian statehood and regional conflicts.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar