Are we ready for what's to come?

There is a "war" going on now. The Palestine-Israel conflict, which has been ongoing for 75 years, stands before us as the genocidal legacy of Zionism. As modern-day individuals, we can no longer fathom what we have witnessed. History places the responsibility on us to bear witness to what is happening in Gaza. Our smartphones have a duty to facilitate this. We are also responsible for every pain, every massacre, and every brutality we witness.

If we are human, if we are Muslims, we have no choice but to stand up in the face of our witness. Even remaining silent in the face of the atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza for the past 22 days means taking the side of Zionism. The words of Cemil Meriç, "In a place where there is oppression, neutrality is dishonesty," once again resonate in the last 22 days.

I said, "There is a war going on." We are not the ones who started it, nor should we. We don't want war; we are striving for peace. We do not know how much longer this state and this nation will endure and endure. To those who say, "A Yeni Şafak columnist is advocating for war," I will respond right away: I am not advocating for war; I am defending the right to legitimate defense.

The West has started a war. The alignment of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy alongside Israel and the anchoring of U.S. warships off the Gaza coast is a new Crusade War. We must name this and be well-prepared. It would be a great delusion to think that the West, with all its power, has taken a position against Gaza, which is squeezed into a 300-square-kilometer area. The blockade of Gaza by the West, trampling on all of its values, is a matter of national security for Türkiye.

Yesterday's "Great Palestine Rally" in Istanbul was very important in terms of realizing this great danger. The Turkish people have always taken to the streets for injustices in oppressed regions and proclaimed their stance against the oppressors. The rally at Atatürk Airport was different from previous rallies. After witnessing the events in Gaza, we cannot stand still due to anger. All we can do is take to the streets. We shout, protest, and declare that we are against the murderous Israel. We make pledges and boycotts. However, we do not have an instant impact on Gaza.

So why did 1.5 million people take to the streets in Istanbul yesterday? Or, more explicitly, why did President Erdoğan hold a rally to support Palestine? Because a significant portion of society wants Türkiye to stand up against the disbelievers as a state. Diplomatic talks, negotiations, warnings, and calls have lost their meaning. Yesterday's rally, in my opinion, was a preparation. It was both a public opinion poll and a clear message to Israel. It seems that from now on, the matter will not progress on the diplomatic ground. The West will not turn back from the war it has started. The Turkish public and the Turkish nation must be ready for the great religious war that is emerging against Türkiye through Zionism and Evangelicalism.

President Erdoğan also made this clear in his speech: "Hey, West, I'm addressing you. Do you want to start a new Crescent-Crusader struggle? If you have such an effort, know that this nation has not died."

Erdoğan said he had seen that hand and added: "We are not only condemning the massacre in Gaza here; we are also defending our own independence and future."

Not only Israel and its allies but also the Israel sympathizers and the ones who say, "Why did Erdoğan hold a rally?" or "Is he only capable of holding rallies?" in Türkiye should read these words carefully. This rally has gone down in history not only because of its sheer size but also because of the message it conveys.