Turkey’s UN Representative Önal Urgently Calls for Ceasefire
Turkey’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Sedat Önal, has spoken out at an emergency Palestine session held at the UN General Assembly. The session was requested by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Group and the Arab Group in response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
During his address, Ambassador Önal highlighted the unprecedented disaster that has unfolded in Gaza over the past 10 weeks. He noted that more than 18 thousand Palestinians have tragically lost their lives, with many more sustaining injuries in Israeli attacks. The number of individuals left among the rubble remains unknown.
Önal emphasized that these are not just numbers, but innocent civilians, predominantly women and children, each with shattered dreams. He warned that the situation in Gaza poses a serious risk of regional conflict and stressed the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further violence and suffering.
The Ambassador urged for unimpeded and adequate humanitarian assistance through additional border crossings throughout Gaza. He condemned the crimes against humanity taking place in Gaza, stating that the international community must not remain insensitive to the ongoing massacre.
Önal emphasized that the international community’s delay in addressing the situation and bringing perpetrators to justice undermines its credibility in finding solutions to global issues. He called for an end to the occupation of Palestinian lands and recognized the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination as key to achieving a permanent solution.
In conclusion, Ambassador Önal expressed disappointment in the UN Security Council’s failure to reflect the collective conscience of humanity regarding Gaza. He emphasized the importance of the UN General Assembly in safeguarding the reliability of the UN system in the face of ongoing crises.
