Turkey’s opposition leader criticizes UN’s failure to protect Palestinians

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s main opposition leader on Tuesday criticized the UN for failing to stop violence against the Palestinian people.

"Around 300 people have lost their lives, there are children among them. This is a massacre by Israel. This is happening in the 21st century," Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Republican People's Party (CHP), told his party's parliamentary group.

Voicing solidarity with Palestinians, Kilicdaroglu said: "Every child who dies there concerns people living all over the world. Each of us has individual responsibility".

He also criticized Muslim countries’ “silence” over the issue.

The total number of people killed in the ongoing Israeli attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip has risen to 213, including 61 children, 36 women, and 16 elderly people, the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Tuesday. As many as 1,400 people have also been injured in the attacks.

The Israeli military has staged airstrikes since May 10, leaving behind a massive trail of destruction. Media offices and health centers are among the structures targeted.

Tensions that started in East Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan spread to Gaza as a result of Israeli assaults on worshippers in the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.