In Turkey, tens of thousands of President Erdoğan’s supporters gathered in Istanbul this Saturday, October 28, as the Israeli army carries out heavy bombing raids on the Gaza Strip. The Turkish leader organized a “big meeting for Palestine” with his political allies. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has sharpened his tone towards Israel in recent days, also attacked the West and accused it of being responsible for the bombings in Gaza. Israel has recalled its diplomats from Türkiye after Erdogan’s criticism.
Published on: 10/28/2023 – 6:39 p.m. Modified on: 10/28/2023 – 8:36 p.m
3 mins
With our correspondent in Istanbul, Anne Andlauer
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed a crowd for the first time since the offensive on Gaza began, at a time when the Israeli army was heavily bombing the Palestinian enclave. Not surprisingly, the Turkish president expressed very harsh words against Israel, which was accused of committing a “massacre” and “war crime” rather than “defending itself” in Gaza.
But his speech was, above all, a fierce attack against the West… The Americans and the Europeans, whom he accused of supporting and encouraging Israel in its offensive.
“O West, I turn to you: do you want to start a new crescent crusade against the cross? The main responsible for the massacre in Gaza is the West! Everyone knows that Israel is just a pawn in the region that can be sacrificed when the time comes. Because Israel can do nothing without them [les Occidentaux]. If he tries, he won’t last three days, he’ll collapse! », Started the head of state.
Before fully devoting himself to the Palestinian cause and even describing Hamas as “a group of liberators protecting their land,” the Turkish president’s initial reaction was cautious, measured and almost balanced. He hoped to act as an intermediary between Israel and Hamas. He also wanted to avoid damaging his relations with the Jewish state, which Turkey had only just restored after years of rift.
But as the bombing of Gaza has intensified, this position has become untenable not only for his voter base, his political allies, but also for himself because of his long-standing commitment to the Palestinian cause.
With this speech, aimed at both international and his own public opinion, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan adopts a stance that is close to his heart: that of the destroyer of the West, the great defender of the Palestinians and, above all, beyond of Islam on the international stage.
Also read: The Israeli army warns the residents of the northern Gaza Strip
Israel recalls its diplomats from Türkiye
Following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s criticism of the war in Gaza, Israel immediately recalled its diplomats from Turkey to “reassess” relations between the two countries, the foreign minister said on Saturday.
“In view of the serious statements from Turkey, I have ordered the recall of diplomatic representatives to reassess relations between Israel and Turkey,” wrote Eli Cohen on the social network X.
In view of the serious statements from Turkey, I have ordered the return of diplomatic representatives there to carry out a reassessment of relations between Israel and Turkey.
— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) October 28, 2023