Turkey Leads Diplomatic Initiative to Halt Arms Shipments to Israel
Turkey's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ahmet Yildiz, has announced that Turkey is spearheading a new diplomatic initiative called the "Joint Message" aimed at stopping arms shipments to Israel. This initiative is a collaborative effort with several key nations and is intended to curb the escalating violence in Gaza. During a recent UN Security Council session, Yildiz emphasized that Israel has crossed all limits in Gaza, committing what he described as unprecedented war crimes. He urged the UN Security Council to leverage all available tools to enforce an immediate ceasefire, facilitate humanitarian aid delivery, and ensure adherence to international law.
Yildiz's remarks come in the wake of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's call for an arms embargo against Israel, which he believes is crucial for halting the ongoing violence in Gaza. The Turkish ambassador highlighted the necessity of this initiative to address the illegal occupation and protect Palestinian civilians, calling for a principled stance from all countries to support this collective effort.
UNRWA Ban and Humanitarian Concerns
In addition to the arms shipment initiative, Yildiz condemned Israel's recent political maneuvers against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). He criticized the Israeli Knesset's decision to ban UNRWA's operations in areas it controls, viewing this move as a violation of international law and a direct attack on Palestinian refugee rights. Yildiz stated, "The bloodshed must stop," urging the international community to protect civilians and halt the destruction in Gaza and Lebanon.
The recent Israeli legislation, passed by a significant majority, prohibits UNRWA from functioning in areas deemed under Israeli sovereignty, effectively nullifying a 1967 agreement that permitted the agency's services. This ban complicates the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where ongoing violence has led to the deaths and injuries of over 144,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, amidst widespread destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis.
