Erdogan calls for international intervention to stop Israel’s ‘barbaric’ actions

President and AK Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated Sunday that the international community had to put an end to the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “who is leading not only his own country but also our region and the entire world into a great disaster.”

Erdogan said that the Palestinian cause and the massacre in Gaza, ongoing for about eight months, were at the top of Türkiye’s agenda. “This barbarian, thug, and bloodthirsty greedy named Netanyahu, who is dragging our region and the entire world into disaster, must be stopped,” Erdogan said during his speech in the capital Ankara.

“As Türkiye, we object to the oppression, massacre and injustice that has been going on for 76 years on every platform. We stand with the Palestinian people with all our means,” he added.

On the fight against terrorism, Erdogan said: “Türkiye cannot find peace or feel secure until the terror-producing swamps in northern Iraq and Syria are drained.”

Regarding the latest ceasefire proposal, brought forward by the United States President Joe Biden, Erdogan said that Hamas had responded positively to the deal. “Netanyahu’s response, however, has once again been to shed blood, commit massacres, and intensify the policies of occupation and genocide.”

Erdogan stated that values humanity were being tested with the conflict in Gaza. “We will either pass this test with flying colors or live our entire lives feeling the shame of our inaction towards the Palestinian people,” he said.

“We are in close dialogue with Hamas and the Palestinian government. We strongly support the efforts to recognize an independent Palestinian state. The number of countries recognizing Palestine has increased to 147 with Spain, Ireland, and Norway,” Erdogan noted.

He said that increasing the number of countries that recognize the state of Palestine would be one of the most important steps in standing against Israel’s policies of occupation and oppression.