In a shocking move that drew global criticism, the United States, using its veto power alone in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) session, continues to support the ongoing massacre in Gaza. Now, the U.S. is preoccupied with urgently supplying tank shells to the occupying force, Israel. The terror state of Israel has requested more than $500 million worth of tank shells, totaling 45,000 units, for use in Merkava tanks involved in attacks in Gaza. Fearing potential delays in the U.S. Congress due to the presentation of this decision, the U.S. administration bypassed Congress, using emergency powers to approve the sale of 13,981 tank shells worth $106.5 million to Israel.
Claiming it serves national security interests, the U.S. Defense Department justified the immediate delivery of tank shells to Israel by invoking the emergency powers in the Arms Export Control Act. Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented detailed justifications to Congress, emphasizing the urgent provision of tank shells to Israel aligns with the national security interests of the United States. The statement assured that the sale would not have a negative impact on the U.S. defense.
These tank shells are known to be part of a larger arms sale, exceeding $500 million, that the Biden administration seeks congressional approval for. Typically, arms sales in the U.S. undergo a 20-day review by committees in Congress before approval or rejection.
Critics argue that the U.S. administration is pressuring congressional committees to rapidly approve such shipments to Israel. Josh Paul, a former official from the State Department who resigned in protest of U.S. support for Israel, stated that the State Department is coercing congressional committees to swiftly approve such shipments to Israel.
Reports from U.S. media indicate that a significant arms shipment, including approximately 15,000 bombs and 57,000 artillery shells, began shortly after the October 7 attack and continues consistently. Alongside tens of thousands of weapons and artillery shells, bunker-buster bombs are also being supplied to the occupying force.
Despite global outcry, the Israeli military has been deploying armored vehicles and troops to the Gaza Strip for over two months. Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) and military jeeps were observed moving towards Gaza's Shujaiya region, with helicopters seen landing and taking off at the zero point of the Israel-Gaza border. Israeli soldiers were spotted making victory gestures as armored vehicles advanced toward the Gaza border.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, addressing the World Human Rights Day event organized by the AK Party Human Rights Directorate, criticized Western countries for supporting Israel, which is committing atrocities and massacres in Gaza. He stated that these countries are writing a book of double standards, inconsistency, and hypocrisy. Erdoğan pointed out the rising trend of Islamophobia and xenophobia in Western societies, emphasizing the plight of Muslim migrants as the most significant victims of discriminatory and fascist practices.
In his speech, Erdoğan also highlighted the increasing attacks on Muslim places of worship, businesses, and civil society organizations worldwide, blaming cultural racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia for such incidents. He condemned the distortion of the concepts of terrorism and terrorists, turning them into a pretext for attacking Islam and denigrating Muslims.
Regarding the rising attacks on Islam and Muslims globally, Erdoğan stressed that the gap between words and actions has never been wider. He criticized the Western countries for turning a blind eye to cultural racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia while claiming to uphold freedom of the press. Erdoğan called out the Western countries for their inconsistent and hypocritical attitudes, especially in the face of recent attacks on mosques and cultural centers, citing the example of three young people attacked in the United States for wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh.
Erdoğan expressed concerns about the attacks on freedom of the press, mentioning the destruction of cameras belonging to Turkish news agency Anadolu Agency and TRT in the region. He emphasized that more than 70 media professionals have lost their lives in Gaza since the recent attacks began.
Referring to the recent voting in the United Nations Security Council, where the U.S. vetoed a ceasefire resolution, Erdoğan criticized the council's inability to take effective action and stressed the urgent need for reform. He condemned the UNSC for becoming a council that protects and shields Israel rather than fulfilling its mission of preserving global peace and stability.
Erdoğan concluded his speech by invoking the slogan "The world is larger than 5" and expressing his belief that an equitable world is possible but not with the United States. He criticized the U.S. for unconditionally siding with Israel and called for accountability for this support. Erdoğan stated that the days of saying, "The country that supports the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the United States," are over, asserting that humanity will no longer accept such statements.
