Erdogan Vows At Massive Istanbul Rally To Brand Israel As “War Criminal” State, Blames West For Gaza Massacre

Posted on : 29/10/2023 By
Erdogan Vows At Massive Istanbul Rally To Brand Israel As “War Criminal” State, Blames West For Gaza Massacre
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raged against Israel in a speech given before a pro-Palestinian rally on Saturday in Istanbul. He said he is preparing to introduce Israel as a “war criminal” on a world stage, at a moment the debate over Gaza continues heating up at the United Nations.

Erdogan said: “Israel, we will also declare you as a war criminal to the world, we are preparing for it, and we will introduce Israel to the world as a war criminal,” according to a state broadcaster. Footage of the event shows that the turnout was huge, in the hundreds of thousands people gathered in the capital.

He stressed that the West is busy justifying the massacre of innocent people in Gaza, as the civilian death toll soars, saying “Israel is committing war crimes” as an “occupier.” He added: the “West owes you, but Türkiye does not owe you.”

“Those shedding crocodile tears for civilians killed in the Ukraine-Russia war are silently watching the deaths of thousands of innocent children in Gaza,” he critiqued further, highlighting the double standard.

“I am asking West, do you want to create another Crusader War atmosphere?” Erdogan questioned, before saying provocatively: “The main culprit behind the massacre unfolding in Gaza is the West.”

“Of course, every country has the right to defend itself, but where is justice? There is no defense but an open, and vicious massacre going on in Gaza.” He went after Western elites and their ability to dress up everything they say in human rights rhetoric but which proves shallow:

Everyone knows that Israel is a pawn in the region that will be sacrificed when the time comes, he added.

“I said in Davos, you know how to kill. They know well how to kill.”

Erdogan continues, “We are saddened for every civilian in any way, but Israel does not care.”

This week the Palestinian Ministry of Housing issued a grim figure, saying that 20,000 buildings and homes in Gaza have been destroyed over several days of intensified Israeli airstrikes. Turkish media has tallied that in total since Oct. 7, over 200,000 homes and buildings have been leveled.

Istanbul, Turkey.
Thousands rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Erdogan has earlier confirmed he canceled a planned trip to Israel where he was expected to meet with his Israeli counterpart PM Netanyahu. This was part of a normalization and restoration of ties effort, but are now definitely off.

From Tel Aviv’s perspective too, Erdogan’s ratcheting rhetoric in denouncing Israeli war crimes will likely been seen as unforgiveable, even after this current crisis is over. Turkey and Israel have long clashed over the Palestinian issue, and these tensions have now exploded back into full force.

Turkey is ready to declare Israel a war criminal. This was stated by Erdogan at a pro-Palestinian rally in Turkey.

“Israel, we will also declare you as a war criminal to the world, we are preparing for it, and we will introduce Israel to the world as a war criminal,” Erdogan said, addressing the rally at the Ataturk Airport adding, “Israel is committing war crimes.”

Excerpt from AA:

“What was Gaza, Palestine in 1947? What is it today? Israel, how did you get here? How did you enter? You are an occupier, you are an organisation,” he added.

“The West owes you (Israel), but Türkiye does not. That is why we speak without hesitation.”

“The West’s book of sins has once again overstepped its bounds,” he added.

“I am asking West, do you want to create another Crusader War atmosphere?” he asked, adding: “The main culprit behind the massacre unfolding in Gaza is the West.”

“Of course, every country has the right to defend itself, but where is justice? There is no defense but an open, and vicious massacre going on in Gaza.”

“I said in Davos, you know how to kill. They know well how to kill.”

Erdogan speaking at his “Great Palestine Rally” in Istanbul today in front of hundreds of thousands of Turks:

“O West, I’m calling out to you. Do you want to start a Crescent-Crusader clash again?

Israel withdraws diplomats from Turkiye after Erdogan blasts nation as ‘war criminal

In response, Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen stated on the social media site X that, “Given the grave statements coming from Turkey, I have ordered the return of diplomatic representatives there in order to conduct a reevaluation of the relations between Israel and Turkey.”

Erdogan’s AKP party has long been a supporter of the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, which launched a surprise attack on Israel on 7 October, killing hundreds of Israeli settlers and soldiers, and taking more captive to Gaza.

Both Hamas and the AKP share roots in the Muslim Brotherhood political movement and Turkiye has hosted Hamas leaders for decades.

Israel has killed over 7,700 Palestinians in Gaza, including over 3,000 children in response to the Hamas attack, which was aimed at ending the 17-year Israeli siege on Gaza and to win the release of thousands of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

In an hour-long speech, Erdogan also repeated his view that Hamas was not a terrorist organization, while describing Israel as an occupier.

“Hamas is not a terrorist organization, but a group of freedom fighters and mujahideen who are striving to protect their lands and their citizens,” he has said.

Erdogan has used strong rhetoric against Israel in public in the past, while still collaborating closely with Israel in private.

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