Gaza crisis exposes failure of global institutions, says President Erdogan

The relentless violence and ongoing conflict have shattered the faith of billions of people in the effectiveness of international law, the president addresses the Antalya Diplomacy Forum

President Recep Erdogan Tayyip Friday censured the global peacekeeping institutions for failing to fulfill even the bare minimum responsibilities in maintaining peace in the besieged Gaza Strip – which has been under relentless Israeli oppression for days.

“Gaza has tragically become emblematic of global failure and inaction. The relentless attacks by Israel targeting civilian settlements have led to the loss of approximately 30,000 lives among Gazans,” the president criticized.

Over 70,000 Palestinians have been injured and about 2 million people have been forced to migrate away from their homes, the president lamented, adding that children, women and civilians were brutally murdered in Gaza.

The relentless violence and ongoing conflict has shattered the faith of billions of people in the sanctity and effectiveness of international law,” the president said, adding that it is evident that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the European Union institutions, which frequently emphasize principles of rights and law, have demonstrated their ineffectiveness and dysfunctionality.

“What happened in Gaza is not a war. It is an attempt at genocide. Because even in war, a moral and legal framework must be upheld,” the president asserted.

Criticizing the Western powers for their hypocritical policies, the president said that Türkiye is ready to play its part as a guarantor and that words without actions are futile.

“We stand prepared to contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction and recovery efforts. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the supporters of Palestine who gather in solidarity in squares around the world every week,” he added.

‘Fighting terrorist threat for 40 years’

Highlighting Türkiye’s unique position within NATO, President Erdogan emphasized Türkiye stands as the sole NATO member to have directly confronted and defeated Daesh on the battlefield.

He also underscored the alarming rise in Islamophobia targeting Turkish citizens residing abroad, noting that Turkish Embassies have frequently become the site of protests where the holy book Quran is targeted, symbolizing the broader challenges faced by Muslims in Europe.

Highlighting the issue related to migration faced by Türkiye, the president said: “We have already been under serious pressure for 12 years on irregular migration. We are hosting approximately 4 million asylum-seekers fleeing from conflicts and terrorist organizations. The situation is no different in climate change, another important problem facing humanity. As we are located in the Mediterranean basin, we are exposed to the negative effects of climate change more and more every year. It is possible to extend this list even further.”

Stating that Türkiye does not have the luxury of ignoring any event and is analyzing every situation from afar, Erdogan said: “It is our duty toward humanity to say what we know is right boldly. We will say what we know is right. We are aware of the difficulties of this mission today when those who speak the truth are silenced. We will continue to speak the truth, even if it is painful and disturbing for some.”

President Erdogan also highlighted Türkiye’s economic growth by 5.5% and increased the national income from $238 billion to $1.11 trillion, asserting that a country cannot stand firm outside without being strong inside and that gains cannot be achieved at the table without a presence in the field.

The president also vowed that Türkiye will advance cooperation with the African continent and Latin American countries, with which they have deep-rooted ties based on mutual respect.

“‘The world is bigger than five’ and ‘A fairer world is possible.’ While concluding my speech with these thoughts, I would like to thank you once again for your presence at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum,” Erdogan concluded his address at the forum.

Source: Newsroom