Istanbul, 28 October, 2023(GNP): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued a fervent call for Israel to immediately cease its ongoing attacks on Gaza, and get out of its “state of madness”. The strong statement of President Erdogan came as Israel military has intensified its indiscriminate attacks on Gaza overnight.
President Erdogan voiced his concerns on X, formerly Twitter, over the mounting Israeli bombardments, which he noted had once again led to civilian casualties, including women, children, and innocent individuals, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Gazze’ye yönelik sürekli artan ve dün gece yoğunlaşan İsrail bombardımanları yine kadınları, çocukları, masum sivilleri hedef almış, yaşanan insani krizi derinleştirmiştir.
İsrail derhâl bu cinnet halinden çıkmalı ve saldırılarını durdurmalıdır.…
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) October 28, 2023
The Turkish president has also called upon his nation to join the “Great Palestine Meeting,” a rally to be held at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, scheduled for Saturday afternoon. This gathering aims to express solidarity and support for the Palestinian people. President Erdogan is also expected to address the rally.
The ongoing deadly conflict began earlier this month on October 7th when Hamas attacked Israel with rockets and infiltrated into Israel. Hamas cited the incursion as retaliation for violent events such as the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians on daily basis.
In response, the Israeli military launched a relentless bombardment of Gaza Strip, killing kids, women and other civilians, citing Hamas being the target.
These operations escalated significantly on the Friday’s night when Israel announced the expansion of air and ground operations into the territory. A near-total blockade of the besieged enclave has also been implemented, resulting in a complete blackout of internet and communications.
Also Read: Israel launches indiscriminate assault on Gaza, international concerns grow
As per official figures, at least 7,326 Palestinians have lost their lives in the Israeli attacks, with approximately 70% of these casualties being women and children. Whereas the death toll in Israel stands at 1,400.
Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are currently facing severe shortages of food, water, and medicine, primarily due to Israel’s extensive air bombardment and the land blockade.
A recent UN General Assembly resolution called for a humanitarian truce in the conflict. However, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, denounced the resolution as “despicable” and rejected its provisions.
Erdogan’s call to halt Israeli operations in Gaza is part of his long-standing support for the Palestinian cause. The Turkish president has consistently advocated for the Palestinian people. Though his stance on Israel had become soft in recent years as in 2021, he took steps to restore diplomatic relations with Israel, including a historic meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in September. However, Erdogan canceled a planned visit to Israel in the wake of the recent Gaza conflict, condemning Israel’s military actions as “inhumane.”
