ADDS MORE STATEMENTS BY TURKISH PRESIDENT; OTHER SMALL EDITS THROUGHOUT
By Anadolu staff
ISTANBUL / ANKARA (AA) – It is Türkiye's duty to stop the bloodshed in Gaza, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday.
Speaking at a local inauguration ceremony in the Black Sea province of Rize, Erdogan said Türkiye has an obligation to "save Palestinians from Israel's oppression."
"It is our duty to stop the bloodshed in Gaza, which is being carried out in front of the very eyes of the international community," he said.
"We are doing and will continue to do more than what is visible," Erdogan said of Türkiye's efforts for the Palestinian people.
Türkiye will never forsake its brothers and sisters in Gaza, he promised.
"It is our historical responsibility to call out the crimes of those supporting this immoral, unscrupulous, despicable massacre (in Gaza)," Erdogan added.
“It is our humanitarian duty to pursue the killers who are taking the lives of children, mothers, and innocent people all over the Palestinian territories, as well as the thieves who are plundering the possessions of the oppressed,” Erdogan said on X on Sunday.
“Furthermore, it is our historical responsibility to point out their crimes wherever we encounter those who support the perpetrators of this immoral, heartless, and despicable massacre,” Erdogan added.
“Preserving the sanctity of Jerusalem’s Haram Al-Sharif, which includes our first qibla (direction for prayer) the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in a manner that respects the rights of members of other faiths, is among our spiritual obligations,” he added.
The residents of Gaza are suffering from a catastrophic humanitarian and health situation as Israel still bars the entry of fuel into Gaza, leaving many hospitals out of service.
According to the UN and Red Cross, an insufficient amount of humanitarian aid is being allowed to the Gaza Strip, which has been under a near-total blockade for 30 days.
Over 9,700 Palestinians including 4,800 children and 2,055 women have been killed in Israeli bombardments since Oct. 7, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Nearly 1,540 Israelis have been killed.
*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz in Ankara