ANKARA, (TDI): Turkiye, one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, will leverage the upcoming UN General Assembly to draw attention to what it describes as Palestinians genocide occurring in the region, calling for increased international pressure on Israel.
President Tayyip Erdogan and several Turkish ministers will attend the General Assembly in New York during a period marked by intense cross-border clashes between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, in addition to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
As a NATO member, Turkiye has condemned Israel’s military operations in Gaza, initiated in response to a Hamas attack on October 7 last year.
The country has halted all trade with Israel and has applied to join a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Israel has consistently dismissed the genocide allegations, asserting that its military actions in Gaza are acts of self-defense targeting Hamas.
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Erdogan is scheduled to address the assembly on Tuesday, where he will emphasize what he refers to as “ongoing genocide in Gaza” and reiterate his call for a reform of the UN structure to make it more inclusive, according to a Turkish diplomatic source.
The Turkish delegation, which includes Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, plans to prioritize the Gaza issue in all discussions and bilateral meetings throughout the week.
Fidan has urged his Muslim counterparts in New York to utilize their networks to spotlight the situation in Gaza.
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Erdogan has already met with the leaders of Serbia and Albania during his time in New York, and further discussions on counter-terrorism, mediation, regional relations, and investments are expected between him and Fidan.
