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

By Sorwar Alam

ANKARA (AA) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday criticized the United Nations for doing nothing in the face of Israeli brutality in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking at a fast-breaking dinner (iftar) for martyrs’ families in Ankara, 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.

On Monday, at least 62 Palestinian demonstrators were martyred and hundreds more injured by Israeli troops deployed along the other side of the border.

Monday’s demonstration had coincided with Israel’s 70th anniversary -- an event Palestinians refer to as “the Catastrophe” -- and the relocation of Washington’s Israel embassy to Jerusalem.

Since the Gaza rallies began on March 30, more than 100 Palestinian demonstrators have been martyred by cross-border Israeli army gunfire.

Last week, the Israeli government claimed the ongoing border protests constitute a “state of war” in which international humanitarian law does not apply.