ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday told United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres that Israel must be held accountable in international courts for what he called war crimes it committed in Gaza, the Turkish presidency said.

In a phone call ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on Gaza planned for Wednesday, Erdogan and Guterres discussed the “expectations of the international community regarding Israel’s unlawful attacks”, access of humanitarian aid into the enclave, and efforts for a lasting peace, the Turkish presidency said.

“During the call, President Erdogan said Israel continues to shamelessly trample on international law, the laws of war, and international humanitarian law by looking in the eyes of the international community, and it must be held accountable for the crimes it committed in front of international law,” it said in a statement.

In addition, Jordan’s King Abdullah said Israeli aggression in Gaza and army operations in the West Bank “negate human values and the right of life.”

In remarks carried on state media, the monarch who again called for an end to the crisis, said the Israeli siege on the enclave that prevented for weeks the entry of medicine, food and fuel and cut electricity supplies, amounted to war crimes.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2023