Newsletters
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus on Friday called on the international community and national parliaments to take concrete action against what he described as persistent Israeli violations of international law, saying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza could no longer be ignored.
Speaking at the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament in Rome, Kurtulmus said the international community could not remain silent in the face of violations and impunity.
“We cannot let impunity go unpunished,” he said, calling for concrete steps to uphold international law.
“We can no longer turn a blind eye to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the wider region and the blatant human rights violations and crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Israeli government against the people of Palestine,” Kurtulmus said.
“This is not merely a political question but also a test for humanity’s common conscience.”
Kurtulmus said Israeli actions were not limited to Gaza, pointing to destruction, displacement and settler violence in the West Bank.
He also accused Israel of threatening the territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon.
Kurtulmus said parliaments should take a more active role in efforts to end the suffering in Gaza and violations of international humanitarian law.
“We believe that coordinated action by parliaments can strengthen international efforts to uphold international law and confront persistent violations,” he said.
He argued that the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and what he described as genocide there reflected a broader erosion of the rules-based international order.
Kurtulmus also criticized the existing international order, saying it had failed to prevent conflicts and wars, including in Europe.
“The war between Russia and Ukraine, continuing for almost five years now, has turned to a war of attrition affecting all of Europe rather than a conflict between two nations,” he said.
He added that the international system had also failed to stop what he described as genocide by the Israeli government in Gaza for more than three years.
Kurtulmus said the rules-based international order was undergoing a serious erosion of both legitimacy and function.
Kurtulmus said parliaments should take an active role in shaping, debating and supporting new rules and arrangements needed for a fairer and more credible international order.
“This is where parliamentary diplomacy becomes particularly important,” he said. “It can complement traditional diplomacy, keep communication channels open, and when necessary create new ones.”
He also argued that resolving global crises could not depend solely on the United Nations or U.N. reform.
“Placing the entire burden of resolving crises on the U.N. and relying solely on U.N. reform will not yield results,” Kurtulmus said.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
1 min read
