In a speech in a main square in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Friday, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced Israel's recent actions with relation to this week's protests in Gaza, saying that the world's Muslims must take a "physical stance on Israel."
His speech began with a cry for Muslims around the world to unite with one another in the face of "fights and conflicts and disputes among themselves." He invoked phrases from the Quran to ignite the crowd, which cheered him on as he spoke of the Muslim unity and the faith's connection to the city of Jerusalem, revered as holy by the three Abrahamic religions.
His speech began with a cry for Muslims around the world to unite with one another in the face of "fights and conflicts and disputes among themselves." He invoked phrases from the Quran to ignite the crowd, which cheered him on as he spoke of the Muslim unity and the faith's connection to the city of Jerusalem, revered as holy by the three Abrahamic religions.
The rally was held in support of the Palestinians, with participants waving Palestinian and Turkish flags together.
"The occupation of Jerusalem, the violation of the privacy of the al Aqsa mosque, and the violation of the rights of the folks of Palestine...we declare that we will not accept this," Erdogan continued. Echoing statements made earlier in the week by him and his Foreign Ministry, he condemned the move of the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which took place on Monday. After the move, Turkey recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Israel.
"The occupation of Jerusalem, the violation of the privacy of the al Aqsa mosque, and the violation of the rights of the folks of Palestine...we declare that we will not accept this," Erdogan continued. Echoing statements made earlier in the week by him and his Foreign Ministry, he condemned the move of the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which took place on Monday. After the move, Turkey recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Israel.
Erdogan did not limit his criticism to Israel, however: He also critiqued the United Nations and the power he believes that the United States has over the international body. The United States is one of the Permanent 5 (P5) countries on the Security Council that allows it to veto resolutions.
Turkey, he added "will definitely show where it stands with Palestine and Jerusalem issues." He told the crowd that "with the strength of Jerusalem in our feet, let's march together...let's come and unify and be together and fight the tyrants with one hand, with one strong fist."
"There is a global order that knows no human rights," he added, suggesting that both the United States and Israel were a part of this. "Turkey is the country that is targeted the most by Israel and the leader that is targeted the most by Israel is me," he said.
"There is a global order that knows no human rights," he added, suggesting that both the United States and Israel were a part of this. "Turkey is the country that is targeted the most by Israel and the leader that is targeted the most by Israel is me," he said.
The Times of Israel liveblogged Friday’s events as they happened.
UN rights chief slams Israel’s ‘wholly disproportionate’ handling of Gaza riots
GENEVA — The UN human rights chief on Friday slams Israel’s handling of deadly clashes along the Gaza border as “wholly disproportionate,” backing calls for an international investigation.
Addressing a special session of the UN Human Rights Council on the violence in which the Hamas-run health ministry says more than 100 Gazans have died in six weeks, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein warns that “killing resulting from the unlawful use of force by an occupying power may also constitute willful killings, a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention.”
Hamas chief says group looking to expand clashes to West Bank
The leader of Hamas says the terror group will work to expand the violent border clashes in Gaza to the West Bank.
Speaking at Gaza City’s Great Mosque, Ismail Haniyeh vows the violent “March of Return” protests will continue, after they dropped off dramatically following Monday’s deadly riots.
“The March of Return will continue until it achieves its goals, among them expressing opposition to the Trump [peace] deal,” Channel 10 reports Haniyeh as saying. “The march will not stop until the blockade on the Gaza Strip is fully lifted. We won’t accept half-solutions.”
Haniyeh also addresses reports earlier in the week that Israel warned Hamas it would target its leaders if the terror group does not rein in the clashes.
Israeli envoy: Calls for probe into Gaza clashes embolden Hamas
The Israeli representative at the UN Human Rights Council says the organization’s call for an inquiry into Israel’s handling of clashes on the Gaza border emboldens Hamas.
“What this Special Session has already succeeded in doing is to empower Hamas and reward its terror strategy and its use of civilians as human shields to advance its terror activities against the citizens of Israel,” says Aviva Raz Shechter, Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva.
She says calls for Israeli restraint will provoke further Hamas to engage in further violence, in turn endangering Palestinians.
“It is Israel, certainly not Hamas, which makes a real effort to minimize casualties among Palestinian civilians… the IDF took all available precautionary measures and has warned residents of the danger they would face should they engage in violent riots,” Raz Shechter says.
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