Turkey will continue its struggle to protect the rights of Palestinians on every single international platform until Palestine is fully liberated, Turkey's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said Friday.
Speaking to Stav magazine in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Altun said that Turkey will do all that is necessary to end Israel's illegal and unlawful stance.
Regarding Israel's recent attacks targeting the Palestinians, he said: "Israel, which does not recognize any humanitarian or sacred values, has once again proved that it is a terror state. In a holy month for Muslims, it committed vicious attacks against our Palestinian brothers in Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and Gaza. Hundreds of Palestinians, including many children, were martyred."
Despite the sorrow and anger they felt about the devastation caused by the Israeli terrorism, Turkey did not remain silent, said Altun and added: "Turkey under the leadership of our president has been the leading defender and supporter of Palestine's just cause for years. In the face of these recent attacks, we showed our reaction in the strongest way since the beginning. We, both the state and the nation, resolutely maintain this stance on every level. We are attempting to mobilize all international institutions, especially the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to support Palestine against Israel's attacks."
He noted that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan conducted diplomacy with highly intensive diplomatic traffic for Palestine and the Palestinians by speaking with more than 20 countries' leaders. Altun said that Turkey has called on countries and international organizations to act together to immediately stop Israeli attacks and give Israel a lesson that will be a deterrent for them.
"We will continue to fight for Palestine on every international platform. We will do whatever it takes to end Israel's unlawful attitude. Our struggle will continue until Palestine is fully liberated," he added.
Turkey has long stood by the oppressed against the subjugation of tyrants, Altun said. Turkey "took on the responsibility to speak up for what is fair and true on all platforms. Justice must be universal," he added.
In a series of Twitter messages, Altun also said that Israel's persecution will not be forgotten for years to come. Sharing a clip from the video, "The Story of Palestine," by Emon Askar, Altun said that just as Ottoman tolerance and justice are still remembered, Israel's persecution will be remembered.
"Truth is static, only the way it is expressed changes," he said.
Israel's continued war crimes against the Palestinians must be brought to an immediate halt, he said and added, "Israel, which is solely responsible for war crimes in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, should be stopped immediately."
"Turkey's attitude toward Israel's policy of terrorist acts and occupation is clear," he said, underlining that an international protection mechanism should be established for the Palestinians, with military and financial contributions.
Speaking during a U.N. General Assembly session on the situation in Israel and Palestine, Çavuşoğlu said blame must be assigned "where it belongs."
"Israel alone is responsible for what is happening today in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza," he said. "Repetition of such tragedies cannot be prevented unless and until Israel is held accountable for its crimes and its sense of impunity is put to an end."
Israel Thursday announced a cease-fire to end their 11-day military offensive in the Gaza Strip that killed hundreds and caused widespread destruction.
At least 230 Palestinians have been killed, including 65 children and 39 women, and 1,710 others injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since May 10, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
The attacks in Gaza were preceded by days of tension and Israeli aggression in occupied East Jerusalem, where hundreds of Palestinians were assaulted by Israeli forces at Al-Aqsa Mosque, a site sacred to Muslims, and in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. In 1980 it annexed the entire city, a move never recognized by the international community.