Turkish president slams Western silence over Israeli war on Gaza

By Rabia Iclal Turan​​​​​​​

NEW YORK (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday criticized the West for silence in the face of Israel's war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 41,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7.

“Unfortunately, many Western countries remain silent in the face of Israel, and they never took a stance against Israel,” Erdogan told US-based NBC News.

“Among the NATO allies, unfortunately, there are many countries that side with Israel. We are currently in the United States right now, and the United States is actually one of them,” he said.

Erdogan said US President Joe Biden criticizes Israel on one hand, but provides Israel with weapons, ammunition and has dispatched an aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean in support of Tel Aviv.

- US presidential elections

Asked about the American presidential elections in which Vice President Kamala Harris and former US President Donald Trump are vying for the White House, Erdogan said cooperation between Türkiye and the US would continue regardless of the outcome.

"As leaders managing countries, nations, and peoples, it is not possible for us to think differently. On a global level, the positions of the US and Russia are clear. We will continue to maintain close relations with all administrations,” he said.

On Türkiye-Russia relations and Ankara’s decision to participate in the BRICS meeting in October in Russia, Erdogan said: "Our relations with Russia are multidimensional. We have political, economic, cultural, and defense industry ties."