Thousands of people gathered in Istanbul on Saturday for the “Great Palestine Meeting,” a pro-Palestine rally aimed at condemning recent Israeli military actions in Gaza. This rally took place following a deadly attack in southern Israel attributed to Hamas terrorists, which claimed the lives of 1,400 Jews. The question arises: how should Israel respond to such attacks by an organization designated as a terrorist group by the United States, the European Union, and Israel itself? When an entity like Hamas engages in violent acts aimed at killing civilians, Israel asserts both its right and obligation to protect its citizens.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued an urgent warning to the United Nations and Palestinian residents living north of Wadi Gaza, advising them to evacuate to the southern part of the Gaza Strip within 24 hours. The Israeli Prime Minister conveyed a direct message to Gaza residents, urging them to leave, emphasizing that Israel would operate forcefully throughout the area.
However, Hamas terrorists encouraged Palestinians to disregard the IDF’s evacuation notice for civilians in northern Gaza, labeling it as “fake propaganda.” This decision put civilians at risk, as the IDF stated that Hamas deliberately concealed military targets in residential areas and used civilians, including children, as human shields.
Hamas understands the importance of presenting itself as both a victor and a victim in their conflict with Israel. Their strategy involves sacrificing more Palestinians to further their cause and propaganda. At the Istanbul rally, attendees expressed their outrage over Israel’s military actions while overlooking Hamas’ initial deadly assault, and there was no mention of the 220 Jewish hostages being held by Hamas.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the rally and addressed the massive crowd, commending those who support the Palestinian cause. During his speech, Erdogan made a thinly veiled threat, stating, “We can come at any night unexpectedly,” undermining diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. In response to Erdogan’s words, thousands of Turks chanted, “Turkish military to Gaza,” a sentiment that, if acted upon, could significantly escalate tensions in an already volatile region.
Erdogan went further, announcing Turkey’s readiness to declare Israel a war criminal. He stated, “Israel, we will also declare you as a war criminal to the world, we are preparing for it, and we will introduce Israel to the world as a war criminal.” He labeled Israel as an occupier and challenged its presence in the region.
Erdogan also criticized the West’s stance, accusing it of creating a hostile atmosphere reminiscent of the Crusades. He questioned the Western world’s commitment to justice in the ongoing Gaza conflict. Erdogan’s speech raised concerns about the potential for further escalation and the regional implications of these developments.
