Turkish President says Hamas is not a terrorist organization

Tayyip Erdogan calls for an immediate ceasefire between Israeli and Palestinian forces Photo: ADEM ALTAN/AFP

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that Hamas is not a terrorist organization, but a liberation group fighting to protect Palestinian lands and people.

The Turkish leader's remarks drew immediate condemnation from the Israeli government, with Italy calling them disgusting.

>The diplomatic row erupted as Israel continued to protest previous remarks by the UN secretary-general, who was accused of suggesting that the October 7 attack was triggered by the «suffocating occupation» of the Palestinian territories.

Israel said it had responded by rejecting a visa request from Britain's UN aid chief, and Rishi Sunak said he disagreed with the chief's comments secretary.

Downing Street said: “Clearly we do not agree with this characterization put forward. It is clear to us that there is and cannot be any justification for the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas, which was motivated by hatred and ideology.»

Mr Erdogan called for an immediate ceasefire between Israeli and Palestinian forces and said that Muslim countries must act. together to ensure lasting peace in the region.

He said: “Hamas is not a terrorist organization, it is a liberation group, “mujahideen”, fighting to protect their lands and people.”

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Mr Erdogan also criticized Western powers who have voiced support for Israel's response to Hamas, saying: «The West's tears for Israel are a sign of fraud.»

< p>Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called these comments “serious and disgusting and not helping to de-escalate.”

Israel stated this “with all my heart.” rejects the harsh words of the Turkish President.”

Lior Hayat, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said: “Even the Turkish President’s attempt to defend a terrorist organization and his inflammatory words will not change the horrors that the whole world has seen.”

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Antonio Guterres, UN chief

Mr Guterres told the UN Security Council that it was important to recognize that “attacks by Hamas do not occur in a vacuum.”

Israel has demanded his resignation, accusing him of expressing «understandings of terrorism and murder.»

Mr Guterres on Wednesday said he was «shocked by the distortions of some of my statements yesterday in the Security Council — as if I condoned terrorist attacks Hamas.

“This is a lie. It was the other way around.

“I believe there is a need for clarity, especially out of respect for the victims and their families.”

But Israel's ambassador to the body, Gilad Erdan, previously said the country would respond by denying visas to UN officials.< /p>

“Because of his remarks, we will refuse to issue visas to UN representatives,” he told Army Radio.< /p>

“We have already denied a visa to the Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. Martin Griffiths. It's time to teach them a lesson.»

Mr Griffiths heads the UN's humanitarian aid department after a career as a British diplomat and with aid agencies including Save the Children and Action Aid.

He was previously the Secretary-General's Envoy to Yemen and a UN Special Adviser. on Syria.

Tel Aviv news channel I24 reported that Mr Erdan is also considering expelling UN officials from Israel in retaliation.

It is unclear what those actions would be, if any will be completed. will mean for UN aid personnel working in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

Mr Guterres has repeatedly called for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, demanding «action to end this terrible nightmare.»

«The Hamas attacks did not happen in a vacuum»

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after an attack earlier this year month and began intensive bombing of the Gaza Strip.

The enclave's Hamas-run health ministry says more than 6,500 Palestinians have been killed in retaliatory strikes by Israeli forces. The territory's hospitals are overwhelmed with the wounded and are on the verge of collapse due to fuel running out.

Mr Guterres told the Security Council in New York on Tuesday that there had been «clear violations of international humanitarian law» in the Gaza Strip, including Hamas' use of civilians as human shields and Israel's bombing of the enclave's south after he called for one million people evacuate there. from the north of the territory.

“It is also important to recognize that the Hamas attacks did not occur in a vacuum,” he said.

“The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of stifling occupation.

“But the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the horrific attacks by Hamas. And these horrific attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.»

Queen Rania of Jordan, meanwhile, accused Western countries of «blatant double standards» for refusing to condemn Israel's bombing of the Gaza Strip.

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The Queen, whose parents are Palestinian, said people in the Middle East were «shocked and disappointed by the world's response» to the situation unfolding in the Gaza Strip.

«Over the last couple of weeks we have witnessed a blatant double standard in the world » she told CNN.

«When October 7 happened, the world immediately and unequivocally supported Israel and its right to self-defense and condemned the attack that took place, but what we have seen in the last couple of weeks is silence in the world «, added Queen Rania.

< p>Following the Hamas attack, Israel also completely besieged the densely populated enclave of about 2.4 million people.

A small number of aid trucks have been allowed in in recent days, but aid agencies say this is a small portion what is needed.

“This is the first time in modern history that there has been such human suffering without the world even calling for a ceasefire,” Queen Rania said.

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“So, the silence is deafening — and for many in our region, it makes the Western world complicit.

“Are we being told that it is wrong to kill a family, an entire family? , at gunpoint, but can you shoot them to death?»

She continued: «As a mother, we have seen Palestinian mothers who have to write their children's names on their arms — because of the likelihood that they will be shot to death , and their bodies will turn into corpses, is very high.

“I just want to remind the world that Palestinian mothers love their children as much as any other mother in the world. »