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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that the United Nations has become incapable of fulfilling its duty to maintain peace, calling for the reform of the Security Council.
Erdogan has been calling for a more inclusive and participatory framework in the Security Council for years.
He said, "Let's admit that a system in which the will of more than 190 countries is subject to the whims of five countries is neither fair nor able to fully establish trust."
He added, "The United Nations, which was established 81 years ago to maintain peace and security, has become incapable of performing this task, or rather, it has been made incapable of doing so."
Erdogan condemned the situation in the Gaza Strip in a speech to the UN General Assembly, saying that "no one with humanity, compassion, mercy, a sense of justice, and conscience in their heart can turn a blind eye" to what is happening there.
Erdogan said that (Palestinian President) "Mahmoud Abbas has not been able to take his place in this hall for two consecutive years. This injustice towards our Palestinian brothers and sisters hurts consciences."
He called on countries that do not recognize the Palestinian state to review their positions, and urged all countries to increase pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza, which he described as "the most inhumane and shameful concentration camp of our time."
He asserted that attempts to suppress the Palestinian state will fail, adding: "We will witness the beautiful days when the state will be established and its capital will be East Jerusalem within the 1967 borders."
Turkey, a NATO member, is one of the fiercest critics of Israel and its war on Gaza, saying that its attacks amount to genocide. It has repeatedly called for international action against Israel. Israel denies the accusations of genocide.
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