Status: 28.10.2023, 18:52 PM
By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan, (M, right), President of Turkey, and his wife Emine Erdogan (M, left) take part in a pro-Palestinian demonstration organized by the AK Party at Ataturk Airport. © Tolga Ildun/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
At a huge demonstration in Istanbul, Erdogan accused the West of being responsible for the "massacre" in Gaza. The countries of the region must show unity.
ISTANBUL – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is known for his pro-Palestinian stance and sharp criticism of Israel on the Middle East conflict. This is also the case with the current war in Israel: at the beginning he was relatively moderate in his statements, but in the meantime his verbal attacks have intensified. At a rally in Istanbul on Saturday (28 October), he fired not only at Israel but also at the West.
War in Israel: Erdogan attacks the West as "main culprit in massacres"
He accused the West of being "the main culprit in the massacres in the Gaza Strip." Apart from "a few with a conscience who have raised their voices," these "massacres are exclusively the work of the West," Erdogan said at the pro-Palestinian rally. Among those with a "conscience," he was referring to participants in demonstrations in Western countries against Israel. These are not welcome in the West, the Turkish president criticized.
With the rally of his conservative Islamic AKP party at the former Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey wants to "reaffirm loud and clear that we stand with the Palestinian people against persecution by Israel," Erdogan had previously declared. According to him, about 1.5 million people took part in the rally.
Huge pro-Palestinian demonstration in Istanbul: Erdogan also participates
In his speech to several hundred thousand participants, Erdogan sharply attacked the West. "You mourned the children killed in Ukraine, why are you silent in the face of the children killed in the Gaza Strip?" asked Erdogan. He also accused Western countries of creating "a crusading atmosphere" against Muslims. "If you have such an intention, don't forget, this nation is still alive," Erdogan shouted. Just as they acted in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, they will also act in the Middle East.
Erdogan repeatedly recalled the Holocaust. "Yesterday they killed Jews in gas chambers, today the same mentality is in Gaza," he said. The West will "sacrifice" Israel when the time comes, Erdogan also claimed. "Israel cannot survive for three days without the West," it said.
Rally in Istanbul: Erdogan calls Israel a "war criminal"
He accused Israel of committing "war crimes." "O Israel, we will declare you a war criminal," Erdogan announced. Preparations for this are underway, he added. The West, on the other hand, does not even demand a ceasefire, the Turkish ruler criticized: "How many more children, women and elderly people have to die for you to demand a ceasefire?"
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Earlier, the Turkish leader had called on Israel to immediately stop "the madness" in view of the intensified attacks in the Gaza Strip. "Last night's bombings have once again targeted women, children and innocent civilians and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis," Erdogan said on Twitter. "Israel must immediately stop this madness and stop the attacks."
Reaction from Israel after Erdogan's speech: withdrawal of diplomats from Turkey
At the rally, Erdogan reiterated that Hamas is not a terrorist organization. He also accused Israel of "uninterrupted persecution" for 75 years and threatened: "The Western countries you trust will one day leave when their own homes are set on fire. Then you will be alone with those whom you have persecuted for 75 years and their brothers."
The first reaction to Erdogan's speech has already come from Israel. Secretary of State Eli Cohen announced on the short message service X that Israeli diplomatic personnel had been recalled from Turkey and that a "reassessment" of bilateral relations with Turkey would be carried out. (bb)