![memri](/sites/default/files/pic/mlogo.jpg)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said during a speech at the Great Palestine Rally organized by the AK Party Istanbul Provincial Presidency at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul that he is not surprised that Israel was bothered when he said that Hamas is not a terrorist organization. He said that Israel is an occupier and that the Turkish nation knows this and owes it nothing. He also criticized people who "cried crocodile tears" over civilian deaths in the Ukraine-Russia War and who are currently silent as children are being killed by Israel in the Gaza Strip. In addition, he said that the West is responsible for the "massacre" in Gaza, adding that if it wants to again stir up a "Crescent-Crusader fight," it should know that "this nation is alive and well." He added that Turkey will declare to the world that Israel is a war criminal. Video footage of Erdoğan's speech was posted to the Haber Lutfen YouTube channel on October 28, 2023.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: “Unfortunately, among the politicians of my country, there are those who leave Hamas to [the mercy of] Netanyahu. [They say:] ‘Hamas are terrorists as much as Netanyahu is.’ Shame on you!
[...]
“You know how I said that Hamas is not a terrorist organization? Israel is very bothered by this. Anyway, I did not expect anything different. I knew they would say this, and that’s why I expressed it openly and clearly.
[...]
“Israel – how did you come to this area? How did you enter it? You are an occupier. You are an organization. The Turkish nation knows this. The West is in debt to you, but Turkey is not. That is why we speak so freely.
[...]
“Those that yesterday cried crocodile tears for the civilians slaughtered in the Ukraine-Russia War today watch in silence as thousands of innocent children die [in Gaza]. You cried for those who died in Ukraine, but why do you not make a sound for these little ones who are dying in Gaza? I call out to the West: Do you want once again to stir up a Crescent-Crusader fight? If you have such an intention, know that this nation is not dead. This nation is alive and well. Know that whether we are in Libya or in Nagorno-Karabakh, we are the same in the Middle East, with the same decisiveness.
[...]
“The West is the most responsible for the massacre in Gaza.
[...]
“Now, Israel, we are going to declare to the world that you are war criminals.”