ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a scathing attack on Western powers on Saturday, accusing them of being the “main culprit” behind the Israeli army’s brutal actions in Gaza against innocent Palestinian civilians.
Erdogan, a staunch supporter of Palestinian rights, intensified his criticism of the West as the reported death toll from Israel’s brutal military operation in Gaza continued to rise in Gaza.
Speaking at a massive pro-Palestinian rally organized by his political party in Istanbul, Erdogan condemned Israel’s lethal actions as a “massacre” and labeled the country as a “war criminal.” During the rally, attended by a crowd of 1.5 million, Erdogan strongly denounced Israel and its Western supporters for committing war crimes in Gaza.
“The main culprit behind the massacre unfolding in Gaza is the West,” Erdogan asserted, addressing the Turkish and Palestinian flag-waving crowd. He questioned the justice in Israel’s behavior, stating, “Of course, every country has the right to defend itself. But where is the justice in this case?”
Erdogan Accuses Western Powers of Double Standards
Erdogan accused Western powers of displaying double standards, criticizing them for shedding tears over civilian casualties in Ukraine while ignoring the death of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. He challenged the hypocrisy of these actions and accused Israel’s allies of fostering a divisive atmosphere.
“We are against all these double standards and all these hypocrisies,” Erdogan declared, emphasizing the need for a just peace and dialogue. He urged the international community to listen to the call for dialogue, emphasizing that “no one loses from a just peace.”
At least 7,703 Palestinian people, mostly civilians, including over 3,500 children, have been martyred in Israeli relentless air strikes and brutalities in Gaza since October 7.
“Gaza is not only an issue for those struggling to survive there, but for all of us” https://t.co/rBj21jUIoQ pic.twitter.com/1D1RisIpAA
— Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (@trpresidency) October 28, 2023
