Erdogan slams UN for inaction against Israel’s attacks on peacekeepers in Lebanon

Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed concerns on Monday regarding the international system’s credibility when the U.N. fails to protect its personnel from Israeli attacks in Lebanon. He urged the global body to take action against Israel.

“The image of the U.N., which cannot even protect its own personnel, is a source of shame and concern for the international system,” Erdogan said following a cabinet meeting. “Indeed, we also wonder what the U.N. Security Council is waiting for to stop Israel,” he added.

The Turkish president condemned the Security Council for merely observing what he described as Israel’s “banditry” against U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon (UNIFIL), labeling the situation as “impotence.”

Erdogan reiterated that Israel would continue its attacks as long as the U.S. and Europe provide “unconditional” support.

According to the U.N. in Lebanon, Israeli tanks entered its base on Sunday, marking another violation against peacekeeping forces.

Meanwhile, in addition to his criticisms, Erdogan congratulated Turkish-American economist Daron Acemoglu for winning the Nobel Prize in Economics.