Click to see full-size imageOn May 16th, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu recommended an “international protection mechanism” for Palestine’s civilians in an emergency meeting of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
“These efforts should also include physical protection through forming an international protection force with military and financial contributions of willing countries,” Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the virtual meeting of the 57-member Islamic bloc, adding such a mechanism is in line with a 2018 UN General Assembly resolution.
It is time to show unity and determination for Palestine, and Turkey is ready to take any necessary step, he said.
Claiming that efforts to normalize ties with Israel have emboldened it, he added:
“We should stand for justice and humanity. There should be no other considerations. This is time to show our unity and decisiveness. The ummah (Muslim community) expects our leadership and courage, and Turkey is ready to take whatever action is necessary.”
Cavusoglu told the OIC that Israel should be held accountable for war crimes and that the International Criminal Court could play a role.
The OIC meeting comes as Israel continues its relentless bombing of Gaza where it has killed some 181 people, including 52 children, while attacking Palestinians in occupied West Bank.
Israel has reported 10 dead, including two children.
The Israeli bombardment began on May 10th, after Hamas fired rockets in response to bloody Israeli aggression at the flashpoint Al Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem, as well as a brutal crackdown on protests against the planned Israeli expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in annexed East Jerusalem.
It is likely that Turkey’s claims are entirely empty, as it has been pushing out supportive rhetoric for the past week, but hasn’t undertaken any action whatsoever.
It is currently hoping that another Muslim country will take the lead and undertake some sort of action so that it could provide some limited support. It is likely Ankara’s wish to not give up on improving relations with a potential conditional ally in the face of Israel, but also wants to appear supportive in the Palestinians’ plight.
"Many innocent people have died, amongst them there are also children. This is terrible! Unacceptable!"
– Pope Francis calls for peace after Israel brutally kills innocent civilians in #Palestine pic.twitter.com/fFXncdcYsB
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) May 16, 2021
Saudi Arabia and many other Middle East countries are doing largely the same, condemining Israel’s actions, commenting, expressing support of the Palestinians and not undertaking a single actual, conrete step.
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister condemns Israel's ''violations'' of Palestinian rights and ''forcible'' evictions of Palestinians from homes in occupied East Jerusalem pic.twitter.com/VYho3onT90
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) May 16, 2021
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