Türkiye applauds decision by Norway, Spain, Ireland to recognize Palestine

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday welcomed a decision by three European nations to recognize the state of Palestine, urging other countries to make similar decisions.

“I am very pleased with today's announcements" by Norway, Ireland, and Spain that they will recognize the state of Palestine, said Erdogan during his speech at the International Benevolence Awards ceremony in the capital Ankara.

The decision to recognize the state of Palestine comes as Israel continues its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the enclave.

Appreciating the leaders of all three countries “for their conscientious decisions that stand on the right side of history,” Erdogan said: “We also call on countries that have not yet recognized the state of Palestine to take the same step without further delay."

Referring to Bosnian leader Alija Izetbegovic's remarks on genocide, Erdogan said: "The repetition of a forgotten or overlooked genocide is inevitable."

Stating that Israel has been committing “one of the brutal genocides” in Gaza since Oct. 7, Erdogan further said that over 35,000 Palestinians, including 15,000 children, were killed, and over 80,000 others injured.

Israel has turned the blockaded Gaza Strip into a huge children's cemetery in the last 229 days of assault, Erdogan added.

“They have lost their humanity to the extent of killing babies in incubators, bombing hospitals and places of worship, attacking trucks carrying aid materials, and raining bombs on innocent civilians waiting in food lines,” Erdogan added.

“Those who provide logistical, military support to occupiers bear the same responsibility for the blood flowing in Gaza as the occupiers themselves,” Erdogan added.

"The blood of the oppressed people of Gaza sticks to the foreheads of the occupiers and their supporters,” he added.

He also said that as long as Western powers continue to stand behind Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu despite all “his arrogance and recklessness,” massacres in Palestine cannot be prevented.

Stating that Hamas had announced accepting the cease-fire offer the previous week, but Israel continued its “uncompromising stance,” Erdogan noted that the Israeli administration, not content with that, revealed its true intentions by attacking the last refuge of civilians, Rafah.

He further stated that Netanyahu fueled antisemitism to extend his own political lifespan and jeopardized the security of his own citizens.

The Turkish leader warned that if Zionist expansionism continues like this the world is “prone to new conflicts.”

He wanted Israel to be stopped “as soon as possible before more blood is shed, before more children and women die, and before hopes for humanity fade further.”

“Putting an end to the massacre is the first step; however, it's also crucial to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable,” he added.

He reiterated Türkiye's support to Palestinians, adding that Ankara has sent more than 54,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“The treatment of the patients and wounded we have brought to our country continues,” he added.

Underlining that Türkiye completely halted import and export transactions with Israel last month, Erdogan stated: "We disregarded approximately $9.5 billion worth of trade volume."

Stating that “the indispensable agenda” item of meetings with foreign leaders is the recognition of the Palestinian state and the cessation of massacres in Gaza, the Turkish leader said Ankara supports all initiatives launched in this direction internationally.

Erdogan highlighted that the Palestinian cause will achieve victory on a global scale with the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and geographically contiguous Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem based on the 1967 borders.

“Israel has lost this war and been condemned in the eyes of humanity,” he further added.

Palestine is already recognized by eight European countries: Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Sweden, and the Greek Cypriot administration.

More than 35,700 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 80,000 others injured since last October following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered it to ensure that its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

- Ankara making every effort to reach out to those in need

Stating that more than 400 people lost their lives in the flood disaster in Afghanistan, Erdogan said that Türkiye expects a total of 619 tons of aid materials to reach Afghanistan within the next two weeks.

He also urged the “brotherly and friendly nations” to support the Afghan people.

Drawing attention to the ongoing conflict in Sudan for the past year, Erdogan stated: "Unfortunately, due to the civil war, more than 8 million people have been forced to leave their homes. It is important for us to stand by the people of Sudan during these difficult times."

Erdogan highlighted that Ankara is making every effort to reach out to those in need wherever there is a problem, oppression, or tragedy, from Turkistan to the Balkans, from South Asia to Africa, with all its resources.