Erdogan (right) called for Netanyahu and his accomplices to be held accountable (Reuters)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of committing "blatant genocide" against the Palestinian people with the support of the West.
Erdogan pointed out in a press conference with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas yesterday, Tuesday, that the war on Gaza represents one of the greatest atrocities in the past hundred years, stressing the need to hold Netanyahu and his partners in the killing accountable before the law and the human conscience for every drop of blood they shed.
Erdogan also stressed that the only way to achieve lasting peace in the region lies in establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the basis of the 1987 international borders, while recognizing East Jerusalem as its capital.
He also explained that the biggest obstacles come from “the actions of settlers who steal Palestinian lands,” while stressing the need not to be influenced by Israeli propaganda that seeks to distort the reputation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) with lies and slander.
The Turkish President stressed that if a just solution to the Palestinian issue is not reached, peace will not prevail in the Middle East, pointing out the necessity of a just peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis, while providing actual guarantees instead of verbal efforts to achieve peace.
Erdogan stated that his country is ready to bear responsibility within the framework of a guarantee mechanism, and that it will continue to make its efforts in this context.
He also mentioned that Israel was tried before the International Court of Justice for violating the ongoing genocide convention against the Palestinians, despite the precautionary measure decision.
Erdogan condemned the continued killing of Palestinian brothers, including women, children and civilians, by the Israeli government, and attributed the reason for this arrogant and illegal position of Israel to the support it received from Western powers as a result of its crimes in the Holocaust, in addition to the lack of unity of the Islamic world as major factors for the continuation of this situation. the situation.
The Turkish President (right) during a press conference with the Palestinian President in Ankara on March 5 (Reuters)
Humanitarian aid
As for providing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, Erdogan announced his country's efforts to provide aid, as more than 37,000 tons of materials and more than 900 patients were transferred to Turkey to receive treatment.
He also referred to Turkey's efforts to establish a field hospital in Gaza, and to increase financial and in-kind assistance to UNRWA.
Erdogan stressed that the practices of the Israeli occupation aim to undermine the vision of the two-state solution by creating a fait accompli on the ground, explaining that talking about the geographical unity of Palestine has become almost impossible as a result of settlers’ thefts that ignore international law.
He expressed Turkey's continued support for the Palestinians, stressing that unity and solidarity among the Palestinians is one of the best solutions to Israeli injustice, and that Turkey is ready to play its role in achieving this unity and consensus among the Palestinians.
Ending the Israeli occupation
For his part, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that security and peace can be achieved by ending the Israeli occupation of the land of the State of Palestine, and stressed the necessity of complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
He added that the goal is for all peoples of the region to live in security, peace and good neighborliness.
Abbas stressed the continued unification of his people and land, and work to unify ranks in accordance with the political programs and international commitments of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Regarding his talks with the Turkish President, Abbas referred to discussing the latest developments in the situation in the Palestinian territories, and ways to stop the Israeli aggression and genocidal war against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Jerusalem.
He added that the meeting also discussed the diligent work to bring in humanitarian aid, prevent displacement, and stop withholding funds and strangling the Palestinian economy, in addition to stopping attacks on the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Islamic and Christian holy sites.
The dangers of the situation exploding during the month of Ramadan
Erdogan and Abbas discussed the importance of pursuing a political solution that begins with the State of Palestine obtaining full membership in the United Nations by a Security Council decision, more countries recognizing Palestine, holding an international peace conference to implement the political solution, and providing international guarantees and a timetable for implementation.
Abbas warned of the dangers of the situation exploding during the upcoming month of Ramadan due to Israeli practices, preventing worshipers from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque and attacking worshipers, expressing his dependence on Turkey’s support in this area.
The Palestinian President renewed the State of Palestine’s categorical rejection of displacing its people from the Gaza Strip or from the West Bank and Jerusalem, stressing the necessity of complete Israeli withdrawal from the Strip because it is an integral part of the Palestinian state.
He expressed his thanks to Turkey for its positions in supporting the Palestinian people and their just cause, and for the humanitarian aid it provides to its people in the Gaza Strip.
Since the "Al-Aqsa Flood", Israel has been waging a devastating war on the Gaza Strip, which, as of Tuesday, resulted in the death of 30,631 Palestinians and the injury of 72,043 others, most of them children and women.
The aggression also caused massive destruction of infrastructure and an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” according to Palestinian and international reports.
Source: Anadolu Agency