Erdogan criticizes UN inaction over Israeli attacks on UNFIL peacekeepers

He criticized Israel's continued aggression in region; urged international community to hold Tel Aviv accountable

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the United Nations for failing to protect its personnel from Israeli attacks in Lebanon, warning that the global body’s inability to act undermines international stability.

His remarks followed a cabinet meeting on Monday, where he expressed concern over recent Israeli violations targeting the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Erdogan labeled the UN’s inability to safeguard its own peacekeepers as “a source of shame and concern,” highlighting what he described as the UN Security Council’s failure to intervene in the face of Israel’s "banditry."

He also criticized Israel's continued aggression in the region, urging the international community to hold Tel Aviv accountable.

The latest incident occurred on Sunday when Israeli Merkava tanks reportedly attacked a UNIFIL base in southern Lebanon, destroying the main gate and causing smoke from nearby explosions to affect UN personnel.

Israel's military, however, claimed that the tank accidentally backed into the base while retreating under heavy fire from Hezbollah, during a separate clash that left 25 Israeli soldiers wounded.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres responded to the event by condemning the violation and reminding Israel that attacks on peacekeepers could constitute war crimes under international law.

Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for the UN to withdraw its peacekeepers from Hezbollah-controlled areas, Guterres reaffirmed UNIFIL’s critical role in maintaining peace in the volatile region.

The exchange between the UN and Israel comes amid escalating tensions between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. The conflict has intensified since October, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.

Over the weekend, Hezbollah launched a drone attack on an Israeli military camp, killing four soldiers and injuring others.

Meanwhile, Israel’s attacks in southern Lebanon continue, sparking fears of further escalation involving regional powers like Iran.

Erdogan also expressed frustration at what he views as the unconditional support Israel receives from the US and European nations.

He linked this backing to Israel’s unrelenting military actions in Lebanon and Gaza, where humanitarian concerns are mounting.

He emphasized that Israel's control of the Rafah border crossing has obstructed aid deliveries to Gaza, where civilians are increasingly vulnerable as winter approaches.

The Turkish president also touched on Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon, revealing that 966 people have been safely brought back from Beirut.

Ankara has also delivered 300 tons of aid to the region, with Erdogan pledging continued support as the crisis unfolds.

This latest round of hostilities has also strained Israel's relationship with UNIFIL, which has faced repeated accusations of being ineffective in enforcing UN Resolution 1701.

The resolution, adopted after the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, mandates that southern Lebanon remain free of non-state military forces, a condition that Israel argues Hezbollah frequently violates.

In addition to UNIFIL’s inability to prevent clashes, several UN personnel have been injured in recent weeks.

One peacekeeper was shot at the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, near the Israeli-Lebanese border, marking the fifth injury among UN personnel in the region amid the ongoing hostilities.

The latest incident occurred on October 13 when Israeli Merkava tanks reportedly breached a UNIFIL base in southern Lebanon, destroying the main gate and causing smoke from nearby explosions to affect UN personnel.

Israel's military, however, claimed that the tank accidentally backed into the base while retreating under heavy fire from Hezbollah during a separate clash that left 25 Israeli soldiers wounded.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres responded to the event by condemning the violation and reminding Israel that attacks on peacekeepers could constitute war crimes under international law.

In the face of escalating tensions, Netanyahu demands Guterres to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah-controlled areas, accusing the peacekeepers of being used as human shields by the group.

This reflects Israel's longstanding criticism of UNIFIL's effectiveness in enforcing UN Resolution 1701, which mandates that southern Lebanon remains free of non-state military forces.

The exchange between the UN and Israel comes amid escalating tensions between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

As regional tensions rise, global leaders continue to watch closely, with the UN calling for calm while warning that any further attacks on its personnel will not go unanswered.