Turkish first lady calls for immediate cease-fire in Palestine at Doha Forum 2024

By Baris Gundogan

DOHA (AA) – The Turkish first lady on Saturday condemned Israeli atrocities in Palestinian territories as a "post-modern Holocaust," urging the international community to unite in demanding a cease-fire to protect innocent lives.

Emine Erdogan delivered these remarks during a session titled "One Heart for Palestine: Preserving Hope Amidst the Darkness of Occupation and Genocide" at the Doha Forum 2024 in Qatari capital, Doha.

Erdogan said, "What is happening in Palestine today is neither legitimate nor a manifestation of the right to self-defense. Let us define it clearly: it is a 'postmodern Holocaust' being carried out by Israel in Palestinian territories."

"For 14 months, we have witnessed one of the most brutal attacks by organized cruelty on the collective conscience of humanity and the dignity of being human.”

“Under the guise of 'self-defense,' an entire nation, along with its people, culture, and history, is being systematically erased without distinction between young or old, woman or man, Christian or Muslim."

Erdogan called on the international community to “unite around this hope and turn our collective strength into effective action.”

“For the innocent lives we can still save, let us raise our voices for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire… right now,” Erdogan added.

At least 52 more Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll since last year to 44,664, the Health Ministry in the enclave said on Saturday.

Israel has launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in October last year.

The second year of genocide in Gaza has drawn growing international condemnation, with officials and institutions labeling the attacks and blocking of aid deliveries as a deliberate attempt to destroy a population.

On Nov. 21, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its deadly war on Gaza.