“Israel must immediately stop this madness and end its attacks”, says Erdogan following raids in Gaza

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Israel on Saturday to immediately stop this madness and end its attacks on Gaza targets, following an increase in Israeli strikes on the Palestinian territory.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan tweeted, “The Israeli bombardments on Gaza intensified last night and once again targeted women, children, and innocent civilians and worsened the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Israel must immediately stop this madness and end its attacks”, through his official ‘X’ handle.

Since Hamas fighters stormed the border on October 7, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and taking 229 captives, Israel has been preparing for a ground invasion.

According to the health ministry in Gaza, more than 7,300 people have been killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes on the enclave, including approximately 3,000 children.

Erdogan also urged a large turnout for a rally in support of Palestinians in Istanbul on Saturday, which his Islamo-conservative AKP party hopes will draw one million people.

He went on to say, “We will declare loud and clear that we stand alongside the Palestinian people against Israel’s persecution”.

During two decades in office, Erdogan has regularly sided with Palestinians, but last year he also attempted to restore diplomatic relations with Israel, meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time in September.

Wednesday, however, he withdrew plans to visit Israel citing its inhumane war against Hamas in Gaza, whom he described as liberators fighting for their territory rather than terrorists, prompting an outraged response from the Israeli government.

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