In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, party spokesman Ömer Çelik condemned Israel's assault on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), calling it an attack on all member states of the United Nations.
Çelik criticized the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing it as a threat to international law and global stability. “These attacks further illustrate that Israel views anyone who advocates for peace as an enemy. All countries that seek to uphold peace must unite against Israel,” he stated.
The UNIFIL mission, established in 1978, was designed to confirm Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon and assist in restoring the Lebanese government’s authority. Over the years, its mandate has expanded to include monitoring ceasefires and facilitating humanitarian aid, particularly after the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Since September 23, Israel has launched extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, reportedly targeting Hezbollah positions. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least 1,437 people, with over 4,123 others injured and more than 1.34 million displaced. The bombardment is part of an ongoing escalation of cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which intensified following Israel's offensive on the Gaza Strip last year.
The conflict has taken a severe toll, with more than 42,200 people, most of them women and children, killed in Gaza since the offensive began. Despite global warnings that the Middle East is on the verge of a regional war, Israel expanded the conflict on October 1 by launching a ground incursion into southern Lebanon.
Amid growing international concern, Türkiye’s AK Party has called for decisive collective action to curb further violence and uphold peace in the region. (ILKHA)