Ankara, October 06, 2024 – The Europe Today: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sharply criticized Israel, accusing it of using regional conflicts as pretexts for its “occupation and expansion” policies. Speaking at a governing AK Party event in Istanbul on Saturday, Erdogan stated, “Yemen, Syria, and Iran are merely excuses.” He asserted that the Israeli government continually fabricates justifications to legitimize its actions, describing them as occupation and invasion policies.
Erdogan pointed out that Western nations are largely ignoring Israel’s actions, attributing this oversight to guilt over the Holocaust. He urged unconditional supporters of Israel to act “rationally” and cease enabling what he described as Israel’s aggressive behaviors.
Highlighting the ongoing struggle of Palestinians, Erdogan emphasized the resistance exhibited by Gazans since the onset of Israel’s military offensive nearly a year ago on October 7. He remarked, “Our brothers in Gaza have been resisting Zionist occupiers heroically for 364 days despite all hardships.” Erdogan reiterated Türkiye’s unwavering support for Gaza, stating that Ankara would continue to assist the region “with all possible means.”
He affirmed Türkiye’s consistent stance, declaring, “We stand firmly in the same place today as we stood on the first day. We defend the same values today that we defended on the first day.” Erdogan also noted that Türkiye is the only nation to impose economic sanctions on Israel, reinforcing the country’s commitment to its principles on the international stage.
