Türkiye doing all it can to send humanitarian aid, broker cease-fire in Gaza: Official

By Merve Berker

Türkiye is doing all it can to send humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip along with brokering a cease-fire between Israel and Palestine as soon as possible, the Turkish communications director said Sunday.

“Turkish people showed their amazing spirit and support for our Palestinian brothers and sisters today in Istanbul,” Fahrettin Altun wrote on X.

“During the Great Palestine Rally, we have announced to the world that Palestine will never be left alone,” he said. “Our President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan spoke the truth in the face of duplicity and cowardice displayed by so-called civilized and democratic countries around the world.”

“We cannot look the other way when war crimes are being committed by Israel against innocent civilians,” said Altun.

He indicated that with all that Türkiye is doing, “the intransigence of the Israeli authorities is the major obstacle.”

“They seem only interested in conducting what amounts to ethnic cleansing in Gaza,” he stated.

“As President Erdogan said, we will hold Israel responsible by going to the international courts and lodge complaints about Israel’s war crimes,” he said. “The international law protecting civilians cannot be trampled upon so brutally and brazenly.”

Altun urged the international community to “wake up and take collective action against Israel.”

“Today’s UN vote is a step in the right direction that shows Israel is getting isolated in the eyes of the international community,” he said.

“Those who protect Israel by using their veto power at the UNSC (UN Security Council) must feel ashamed of their enabling of and complicity in Israel’s war against civilians,” he said.

“While we will hold Israel accountable, we will continue to push for a ceasefire and keep our doors open for diplomatic initiatives.

“We cannot give up on diplomacy even if Israel is currently pursuing genocidal policies against the Palestinians.”

Gaza has been under relentless Israeli airstrikes since a surprise offensive by Hamas on Oct. 7.

The Palestinian group had initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.

Israel responded with an uninterrupted campaign of air raids, which intensified late Friday, along with ground activities amid a complete blackout of telecommunications and internet networks.

At least 7,703 Palestinians, including 3,595 children, have been killed in the Israeli attacks, while the death toll in Israel stands at more than 1,400.

Gaza's 2.3 million residents are also grappling with shortages of food, water and medicine due to Israel’s blockade of the enclave. Only a few aid trucks have crossed into Gaza since the opening of the Rafah crossing point last weekend.