1 of 2 Erdogan takes part in a proPalestinian protest in Istanbul, Turkey this Saturday (28). Photo: Emrah Gurel/Associated Press Erdogan takes part in a proPalestine protest in Istanbul, Turkey, this Saturday (28). — Photo: Emrah Gurel/Associated Press
Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said on Saturday (28) that he had summoned some diplomats working in Turkey following “serious statements” by the country’s president.
Cohen did not explain which sentences he was referring to. However, earlier Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a proPalestinian demonstration attended by thousands of people in Istanbul.
During the attack, Erdogan said that Israel was committing war crimes by attacking the Gaza Strip. He accused the West of being “the main culprit in the massacres in Gaza.”
“With the exception of a few consciencestricken people who have raised their voices, these massacres are entirely the work of the West,” the Turkish leader said.
Türkiye President takes part in proPalestinian protests in Istanbul
With this speech, Erdogan is targeting the Islamic political base. The rally at Istanbul’s old airport was attended by leaders of allied nationalist and Islamist parties that helped Erdogan win narrow elections in May.
In the onehour speech The Turkish president also reiterated his assertion that Hamas is not a terrorist organization and described Israel as an occupier.
Turkey condemned the deaths of Israeli civilians caused by the Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7, which killed 1,400 people. But Erdogan this week referred to the Palestinian militant group as “freedom fighters.”
In contrast to many allies of the NATOTurkey does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization.
Political analysts said Erdogan was keen to step up criticism of Israel’s attack on the Gaza Strip and overshadow celebrations next Sunday (29) that mark Turkey’s secular roots.
Sinan Ulgen, a former Turkish diplomat and director of the Center for Economic and Foreign Policy Studies, an Istanbulbased think tank, said the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and pressure from political allies had prompted Erdogan to toughen his rhetoric.
“Turkey will protect and share its principles with the international community, but it needs to conduct more subtle diplomacy if it wants to play a diplomatic role,” Ulgen said.
2 of 2 Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a proPalestinian rally organized by the AK Party. — Photo: YASIN AKGUL / AFP Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a proPalestinian rally organized by the AK Party. — Photo: YASIN AKGUL / AFP
Türkiye’s 100th anniversary
Erdogan invited all Turks to take part in the rally, saying that “only our flag and the flag of Palestine will fly.” His Islamicrooted AK party predicted that more than a million people would take part.
The 100th anniversary of modern Turkey takes place on Sunday (29). According to analysts polled by Portal, Erdogan’s strategy is to let news about Saturday’s rally dominate newspaper headlines rather than celebrations of the republic’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Erdogan, Turkey’s longestserving leader, and the AK Party have undermined support for the Western ideals of Ataturk, who is revered by most Turks. In recent years, portraits of Erdogan have appeared alongside those of Ataturk in government buildings and schools.
“The symbolism is clear, and no one in Turkey realizes that the proPalestinian rally is likely to overshadow the centuriesold celebrations of the secular republic,” said Asli Aydintasbas, a visiting fellow at the Washingtonbased Brookings Institution.
She said that while Erdogan’s comments on Hamas reflected the Turkish government’s longstanding position, he intended to capitalize on antiIsrael sentiment at home and “consolidate Turkey’s Sunni conservatives.”
The government said the IsraelHamas conflict would not be limited to the 100th anniversary celebrations, which include events across the country.