Alwaght- Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for taking “swift” action to stop the "terrorist state" Israel’s “aggression” against Palestinians.
“This terrorist state that tries to plunder a city like al-Quds (Jerusalem), which houses places that are holy for Muslims, Christians and Jews, has crossed all limits,” Erdogan said on Friday, referring to Israeli regime.
“It is imperative that UN Security Council takes steps to ensure peace in al-Quds in line with decisions of the General Assembly,” the president said, speaking to the members of his Justice and Development (AK) Party during a video conference. Turkey is ready to actively support any initiative announced by the UN, he said, adding that his nation “will not be silent” even if the rest of the world ignores the developments in Gaza.
The clashes erupted as Palestinians took to the streets in support of their fellow countrymen in Gaza and al-Quds and to protest against the imminent eviction of families from Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem al-Quds.
Tensions escalated in al-Quds throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, ahead of the planned forced expulsions of dozens of Palestinians from Sheikh Jarrah, where illegal Israeli settlers are looking to take over the properties of Palestinian families.
The violent crackdown by Israeli forces against Palestinians in al-Quds has sparked global concern.
“It is a duty for all of humanity to resist [Israel’s] aggression against Palestinian cities and Jerusalem,” Erdogan said, adding that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should particularly take a “concrete” stance on the issue. Otherwise, the organization would simply discredit its own existence, he added.
The OIC announced earlier that it would hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the situation.
“If we do not immediately stop Israel’s aggression in Palestine and… in al-Quds, tomorrow, everyone would be a target of this brutal mentality,” the Turkish president warned. Erdogan also gave a scathing rebuke to the officials who supported Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Those who chose to remain silent or backed Israel “for political and ideological reasons should know that their turn will come one day” as well, he said.
Earlier, leaders of several Western nations including Austria and Germany expressed their support for Israel’s right of “self-defense.”
Meanwhile Erdogan said that he discussed the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza with the leaders of some 20 nations, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.
