Hamas is also defending Anatolia, says Turkey’s Erdoğan

Turkey’s President Erdoğan has reiterated his support for Hamas, and said, “Hamas is also defending Anatolia.” Erdoğan also demanded more countries to recognize Palestine. On the same day, Istanbul police detained ten people after their protest against the Azerbaijan-based oil company SOCAR, demanding it cut its supplies to Israel.

Sunday June 02 2024 11:19 pm

Duvar English

Turkey’s President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on June 2 demanded more countries to recognize Palestine.

Speaking at his party’s meeting in Ankara’s Kızılcahamam, Erdoğan said, “Hamas is also defending Anatolia,” adding that he knows well “how hard our brothers and sisters are struggling.”

Erdoğan also said they were “working in multiple directions to increase economic pressure” on Israel and the number of countries recognizing Palestine reached 147. He said he would visit Span before Eid al-Adha, which starts on June 16.

“Thug Netanyahu, who is leading our region and the world towards disaster, must be stopped. What is being tested in Gaza is our brotherhood law. As Turkey, we object to the persecution, massacre, and injustice that has been going on for 76 years on every platform. We stand by the Palestinian people with all our means,” he added.

Turkey has denounced Israel's military campaign in Gaza, sent thousands of tons of aid for Gazans, and, on May 1 said it would join South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Yet its decision to maintain commercial ties with Israel did not come until April, despite Erdoğan's strong rhetoric, prompted a domestic backlash and hurt the results of the ruling AKP in nationwide local elections in March. Following heightened public outcry, the Trade Ministry first issued restrictions on, then fully halted all trade with Israel.

On the same day with Erdoğan's statement, Istanbul police detained ten members of the “1,000 Youth for Palestine” group, after their protest against the Azerbaijan-based oil company SOCAR, demanding it cut its supplies to Israel via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

Erdoğan also commented on their work for the preparation of a new constitution and said he doesn’t “want this to become a political arm wrestling.”

“We expect the opposition to clearly present their views and proposals instead of talking about the beauties of the (current) coup constitution. While expanding rights and freedoms in line with the demands and expectations of our nation, we cannot compromise our security,” he added.