"God willing, we will see the end of injustice in Gaza, just as it happened in Syria," President Erdoğan said during a youth event in Istanbul. "Our brothers in Gaza will live forever free in that blessed land, watered by the blood of martyrs, and when that blessed day comes, we will be there too."
He stressed that Türkiye has never abandoned its support for the Palestinian people, despite threats and overt and covert attempts to undermine this position.
He continued, "Despite those who describe the Palestinian resistance as terrorism to please Israel, we have not turned our backs on the heroes of Gaza, and we have not stopped defending Palestine and its cause."
He added, "We have stood up to the occupying state since day one, and we have provided more than 101,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. We have halted trade with Israel and implemented international diplomatic efforts to defend our people there."
Erdogan criticized those who question his government's stance on the Palestinian issue, saying, "Who are you to question our position on Palestine? Have you forgotten when you described the people of Gaza as terrorists? Where were you when the blood of innocents was shed in Syria for 14 years?"
Since the genocide began on October 7, 2023, Israel has been simultaneously committing a starvation crime against the Palestinians of Gaza. On March 2, it tightened its blockade by closing all crossings to humanitarian, relief, and medical aid, causing famine to spread and reach "catastrophic" levels.
The genocide, with American support, left approximately 208,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 9,000 missing, in addition to hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and a famine that claimed the lives of many.
