UN 'collapsed' in face of Gaza killings: Turkish leader

ANKARA, TURKEY - MAY 16: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at a fast-breaking dinner (iftar) for martyrs’ families at Presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey on May 16, 2018. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday criticized the United Nations for doing nothing in the face of Israeli brutality in the Gaza Strip. Erdogan said: “The UN is finished, ended, collapsed. At this moment, I cannot reach the UN secretary general despite having a good friendship [with him]." Erdogan underlined they would “never allow Jerusalem to be usurped by Israel”. "We will support the struggle of our brothers until the days when the Palestinian lands -- which have long been occupied -- will have peace and security within the borders of the free Palestinian state," he added. The Turkish president accused the international community of failing to deal with the Israeli attacks, adding that international bodies would have done much more if such killings had happened elsewhere. “We will not remain silent against Israel even though the world closes its eyes to this oppression,” he vowed. Earlier, he announced a mass rally to be held on Friday in Istanbul’s Yenikapi Square to show solidarity with Palestinians. Turkey, as term president of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), called for an emergency OIC summit also on Friday in Istanbul to discuss joint action against Israel.Erdogan stated the U.S. decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem had “made a mockery of” the Israeli government. He vowed to continue support for Palestinians “not only with our heart but also by every means available.” If the international community remains silent in the face of Israel's tyranny, the world will be dragged into a chaos ruled by thuggery, warned Erdogan. On Monday, at least 62 Palestinian demonstrators were martyred and hundreds more injured by Israeli troops deployed along the other side of the border.(Footage by Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)