Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again voiced his support for the Palestinian cause, particularly backing Gaza amidst the ongoing conflicts with Israel. In a recent solidarity demonstration held in Istanbul, Erdogan emphasized the sorrow Turkey feels for Gaza and reasserted his stance that Hamas is not a terrorist organization but is “fighting to protect its…” territory. He went on to criticize Israel’s military actions in Gaza, referring to them as a ‘massacre’ and deemed the response to Hamas’ attacks as disproportionate.
The Turkish president has been proactive on the diplomatic front as well, engaging with leaders from Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon to discuss the developments in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Erdogan expressed Turkey’s determination to intensify diplomatic efforts to restore calm between Israeli and Palestinian forces, albeit while emphasizing a need for a broader change in approach.
Furthermore, Erdogan condemned the Western countries’ support for Israel, alleging that the destruction in Gaza is a result of Western actions. He warned of the grave repercussions this support could have in the region. Erdogan revealed that preparations are underway to declare Israel a war criminal on the global stage, underscoring Israel’s alleged massacre in Gaza carried out under darkness.
This aligns with Erdogan’s past remarks, where he held Western countries responsible for the casualties in the Palestinian territories, linking the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict to a larger international dynamic and asserting the need for a global reevaluation of the situation.
Through these actions and statements, Erdogan aims to position Turkey as a significant player in the Middle East, advocating for the rights of Palestinians, and challenging the global community to reassess its stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.