Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, returning from Hungary after attending the summit of the Organisation of Turkic States in Budapest, once again harshly criticised the situation of the Palestinian population besieged by Israel in Gaza, especially that of children, while lamenting the silence of much of the international community in the face of what is happening in the Strip: ‘You cannot remain silent while babies are being killed and dying of hunger,’ he said.
In statements made to journalists aboard the presidential plane during the flight back to Turkey, Erdoğan addressed several issues of national and international politics and referred, among other things, to the situation of Palestinian civilians in the face of the new Israeli offensive in Gaza, which Netanyahu plans to take over completely by expelling Palestinians from the Strip.
In this regard, the Turkish president acknowledged that ‘Europe seems to have regained its common sense’ following the EU’s reactions in recent days, which announced a review of its ‘association agreement with Israel’ due to its brutal offensive in Gaza. France, the United Kingdom and Canada also recently warned that they would take ‘concrete measures’ in response to the ‘completely disproportionate escalation’ in the Strip, and the British government has suspended negotiations with Tel Aviv for a free trade agreement.
“The world is at a deadlock. The West has failed to defend human rights and international law in the face of Israel’s cruelty, even though it has done so elsewhere. Remaining silent in the face of what is happening in Gaza is the ultimate form of deafness and blindness. History will judge those who failed this test. Turkey has always defended humanity and human dignity, and will continue to do so. We will do everything we can. We will continue to send food to the area,” the Turkish leader said.
Erdoğan: ‘We must stand up against Israel’s rampant expansionism’
It was precisely during the recent summit in Budapest, where Turkey defended the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as an integral part of the community of Turkic states, that Erdoğan also spoke about the dramatic situation in the besieged Palestinian enclave before the representatives gathered in the Hungarian capital: ‘In Gaza, where the most serious humanitarian disaster of modern times is unfolding, the civilian population is living in hell. The United Nations issued an urgent appeal yesterday saying that 14,000 babies could die if aid does not arrive,’ the Turkish president said in his speech, quoted by the Turkish press.
“As Turkic world, our contribution to the establishment of a ceasefire, the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid, the reconstruction of Gaza, and efforts to initiate a just and lasting peace process are important. In the context of the search for stability and tranquillity in our region, it is necessary to stand up against Israel’s unbridled expansionism and support the territorial integrity of Palestine, as well as Lebanon and Syria,” Erdoğan insisted during the Budapest summit.
At the summit, the Turkish president also referred to the ‘deep consequences’ of the war between Russia and Ukraine, which he described as ‘one of the most important tests for our security’: “Both sides met again in Istanbul for the first time since 2022. We will continue our intensive contacts with both countries to achieve a complete ceasefire and a just peace. Similarly, our intensive efforts to stabilise Syria after 14 years of conflict continue. Making effective and proper use of this opportunity is important not only for Syria, but also for stability in the Middle East and beyond.”
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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