Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed the European Union on Thursday for failing to call for a cease-fire in Gaza and accused the West of indifference toward the suffering of Muslims. “How many more children must die before the EU Commission calls for a cease-fire,” he said in a televised speech. “How many more tons of bombs must fall on Gaza before the United Nations Security Council can take action?” Erdogan discussed the Israeli-Hamas war with Pope Francis on Thursday, telling the head of the Catholic Church that Israel’s attacks on Gaza have “reached the level of a massacre” and that the international community’s silence was a “shame for humanity.”
Quick Read
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the European Union for not calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.
- He accused the West of being indifferent to the suffering of Muslims in the region.
- Erdogan questioned why the EU Commission hadn’t called for a cease-fire in the face of ongoing violence in Gaza.
- He criticized the United Nations Security Council for not taking action despite the continued bombings in Gaza.
- Erdogan asserted that the West was ignoring the violence in Gaza because it primarily affected Muslim populations.
- Turkey sent humanitarian aid to Gaza, including generators, and dispatched medical personnel to Egypt in support of the situation in Gaza.
Turkey’s Erdogan Discusses Israeli-Hamas War with Pope Francis:
- Erdogan spoke with Pope Francis about the Israeli-Hamas conflict, describing Israel’s attacks on Gaza as a “massacre.”
- He expressed concern over the international community’s silence regarding the situation.
- Erdogan emphasized the need for uninterrupted aid to innocent civilians in Gaza.
- He reiterated Turkey’s stance that a permanent solution requires the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
- Pope Francis expressed his sorrow for the situation and reaffirmed the Vatican’s position supporting a two-state solution and a special statute for Jerusalem.
Additionally, Erdogan had previously described Hamas militants as a group fighting for liberation and shelved plans to visit Israel.
The Associated Press has the story:
Erdogan slams EU, accuses West of indifference toward Muslims’ suffering
Newslooks- ANKARA, Turkey (AP)
TURKISH PRESIDENT SLAMS EU, ACCUSES WEST OF INDIFFERENCE TOWARD SUFFERING OF MUSLIMS
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed the European Union on Thursday for failing to call for a cease-fire in Gaza and accused the West of indifference toward the suffering of Muslims.
“How many more children must die before the EU Commission calls for a cease-fire,” he said in a televised speech. “How many more tons of bombs must fall on Gaza before the United Nations Security Council can take action?”
Erdogan accused the West of failing to see the violence unfolding in Gaza “because the blood being shed is Muslim blood.”
In his speech, Erdogan also said Turkey has so far dispatched 10 planeloads to Egypt carrying humanitarian aid, including generators, destined for Gaza. Twenty-five Turkish medical personnel have also left for Egypt, he said.
TURKEY’S ERDOGAN TELLS POPE THAT ISRAEL’S BOMBARDMENT OF GAZA IS ‘A MASSACRE’
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the Israeli-Hamas war with Pope Francis on Thursday, telling the head of the Catholic Church that Israel’s attacks on Gaza have “reached the level of a massacre” and that the international community’s silence was a “shame for humanity.”
Erdogan was also quoted as telling Francis during their telephone conversation that everyone should support efforts to deliver “uninterrupted aid to innocent civilians” in Gaza. The statement from Turkey’s presidential communications directorate was posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s position that a permanent solution to the conflict can only be achieved through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The Vatican said Francis’ phone conversation with Erdogan, which was requested by the Turkish leader, focused on “the dramatic situation in the Holy Land.”
In the call, the pontiff “expressed his pain for what is happening and recalled the position of the Holy See, wishing that a solution for two States and a special statute for the city of Jerusalem can be reached,” Matteo Bruni, a Vatican spokesman, said.
The Turkish leader, whose country recently normalized ties with Israel, has increased the tone of his criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. On Wednesday, Erdogan described Hamas militants as a group fighting for liberation — and not a terrorist organization as it has been designated by the West. He also said he has shelved plans to visit Israel.
