ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has called on the United Nations General Assembly to recommend the use of force if the UN Security Council fails to halt Israel’s ongoing attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. This statement follows Israel’s recent ground invasion of Lebanon and its designation of three communities—Metula, Misgav Am, and Kfar Giladi—as a “closed military zone.”
Erdogan invoked the 1950 “Uniting for Peace” resolution, asserting that the General Assembly could intervene if the Security Council’s permanent members—Britain, China, France, Russia, and the U.S.—are unable to maintain international peace due to their disagreements.
As a NATO member, Turkey has condemned Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. In response, Turkey has ceased all trade with Israel and joined a genocide case against the country at the International Court of Justice, a move that Israel has rejected.
Erdogan criticized Muslim nations for not taking a stronger stance against Israel, urging them to apply economic, diplomatic, and political pressure to prompt Israel towards a ceasefire. He warned that continued Israeli attacks could also target other Muslim countries and called for global and Muslim solidarity to ensure peace for all people in the region, including Muslims, Jews, and Christians.
Meanwhile, Israel has conducted small-scale ground raids against Hezbollah near the border. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed that U.S. officials were informed of these “limited” operations. Reports suggest that the Lebanese army is withdrawing from positions along the southern border, though a spokesperson for the army has neither confirmed nor denied these developments.
Earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his opposition to potential Israeli ground operations in Lebanon and called for an immediate ceasefire, stating, “I’m more aware than you might know and I’m comfortable with them stopping. We should have a ceasefire now.”
