Turkish president condemns Israel’s attacks on Gaza, describing it as 'massacre' of civilians

By Faruk Zorlu and Serdar Dincel

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday strongly condemned Israel’s military attacks on the Gaza Strip, describing them as a "massacre" of civilians.

Israel continues to "massacre" civilians in Gaza; it is "unacceptable" that some Western countries remain silent and help Israel, Erdogan said during a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Mahmoud Abbas met at the Presidential Complex in the capital Ankara to discuss the ongoing crisis in Palestine and the steps necessary to achieve a permanent cease-fire and regional peace.

Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye's steadfast support for Palestine, saying: "Türkiye will continue to support Palestine's just cause and will continue to work to stop Israel and increase international pressure on Israel."

He condemned Israel's ongoing violence, saying, "Israel continues to massacre civilians, including babies, in Gaza, displace innocent Palestinians, (and) target schools, hospitals, and areas where civilians seek refuge."

He stressed the necessity of achieving an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches Palestinians uninterrupted.

"All countries, especially the Islamic world, must intensify their efforts to achieve an urgent cease-fire and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid," he said.

Furthermore, he expressed his pleasure with Abbas' speech scheduled for Thursday at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, saying, "I am pleased that President Abbas will address the Turkish Grand National Assembly tomorrow."