Erdogan Criticizes UN's Inability to Protect Its Personnel: "Shameful and Alarming"

Article: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized the United Nations for its failure to protect its personnel, describing it as a source of both shame and concern. 

This remark came in reference to an Israeli attack on the UN's peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

In a speech delivered on Monday after a government meeting he chaired in Ankara, Erdogan touched on Israel's attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, particularly highlighting the targeting of the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNIFIL) in Lebanon on October 10 and 11. 

Erdogan expressed dismay over the UN's incapacity to safeguard its staff, framing it as a disgrace to the global system and a cause for concern, and questioned what the UN Security Council is waiting for to halt the Israeli assaults.

Erdogan asserted his government's commitment to safely navigating Turkey through the crises engulfing the region. He warned that the fire ignited by the Israeli assault on Gaza is spreading across the area due to the current Israeli government's religious zealotry. 

Since October 7, 2023, he has repeatedly stated that the issue extends beyond Gaza and Hamas, indicating a broader intent to continue the policy of occupation.

Furthermore, Erdogan noted that since the beginning of the attacks on Gaza, Turkey has consistently maintained that Israel will not stop and will likely turn its attention to other countries in the region. He underscored that recent Israeli attacks on Lebanon reaffirm Turkey's concerns and validate its predictions.

Erdogan pointed out that comments from Netanyahu's government clearly indicate that Israel's ambitions will not be limited to Lebanon alone. 

He also highlighted the arrogance of the Israeli administration in attacking and threatening UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, describing a scenario where Israeli tanks enter UNIFIL zones, attack peacekeepers, and cause injuries while the UN Security Council remains a bystander. Erdogan labeled this as incompetence and surrender to Israeli aggression, reinforcing his stance that "the world is bigger than five."

He also emphasized that the Israeli government, driven by Zionist ambitions, will not cease its attacks as long as it continues to receive unconditional support from Europe and the USA.

Addressing aid to Gaza, Erdogan highlighted the significant decrease in aid following the Israeli military's occupation of the Rafah border gate, one of the issues closely monitored by Turkey. 

He remarked that Israel is trying to block aid to Gaza by branding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) as a terrorist entity, despite its critical activities in the region.

Erdogan mentioned ongoing efforts to deliver aid to the needy in Gaza using all possible means before the winter sets in. He also touched upon the evacuation of Turkish citizens from Lebanon, affirming that these operations will continue if necessary.

Recently, approximately 300 tons of aid were delivered to Lebanon on two ships operated by the Turkish Naval Forces, which also facilitated the evacuation of 966 Turkish nationals from Lebanon.

At the end of his speech, the Turkish president congratulated Turkish Professor Daron Acemoglu for winning the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics.