UPDATE - International community must act to stop 'genocide' in Gaza: Turkish foreign minister

ADDS STATEMENTS BY OTHER TURKISH OFFICIALS

By Muhammed Enes Calli and Dilara Hamit

ISTANBUL (AA) - The international community must act to stop the "genocide" in Gaza, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday.

“The international community must do its part to stop the genocide and put the necessary pressure on Israel and its supporters,” Fidan said on X.

“Türkiye will make every effort possible on this path,” he added.

“Emboldened by the impunity it has received for its crimes, Israel is killing more and more innocent Palestinians every day,” Fidan said.

He noted that on Wednesday Türkiye submitted an application to the International Court of Justice to join South Africa's genocide case against Israel. Türkiye thus became a party to the genocide case, joining Nicaragua, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, and Spain, who also joined South Africa, which filed the case last December.

The application to the ICJ marks a “concrete and historic step” for the future of the Palestinian cause, Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus said on X.

“We will continue our efforts to ensure that Israel is tried in international courts for the crime of genocide and that Netanyahu and his gang receive the harshest punishment they deserve for the crimes they committed,” he added.

- Showing Türkiye's opposition to the genocide and massacres

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunc said Türkiye's files, prepared jointly by the Justice and Foreign ministries, clearly show that Israel violated the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Tunc stressed Türkiye's stance against the genocide in Gaza, adding that this step, taken under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, openly shows the world Türkiye's opposition to the genocide and massacres committed by Israel in Gaza.

Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesman Omer Celik said Türkiye's application is a defense of humanity and humanitarian values against barbarism. Calling it a strong step against the atrocities of "modern Nazis," Celik said Türkiye continues to work towards condemning the crimes against humanity committed by Netanyahu and his "genocide network.”

Akif Cagatay Kilic, the president’s chief foreign policy and security advisor, said Türkiye will use all legal avenues to end this "historical shame" and ensure that the Israeli government is condemned for its war crimes. Kilic stressed that the application is a reflection of Türkiye's humanitarian conscience in response to the relentless genocide committed by the Israeli government in full view of the world. He also said it is crucial for boosting international support against the Netanyahu government.