TIRANA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli violence in Gaza, calling it the “genocide” and a “shame of humanity,” while urging the international community to secure a permanent ceasefire.
Erdogan made these remarks during a joint press conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana, the first stop of his Balkan tour, which will also take him to Serbia.
“The genocide that has been going on in Gaza for the past year is the common shame of all humanity,” Erdogan said. He reiterated his demand for global action to pressure Israel to halt its military operations.
He further emphasized the need for a ceasefire, stating, “We must do our best to urgently guarantee a permanent ceasefire and exert the necessary pressure on Israel.”
Erdogan’s comments come as Gaza continues to suffer the devastating impact of the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has launched a relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza killing at least 42,065 Palestinians, mostly women and children, the territory’s health ministry said, with the United Nations deeming these numbers reliable.
Erdogan, a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, has been highly critical of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he has referred to as the “butcher of Gaza,” even comparing him to Adolf Hitler.
“The aggression led by the Netanyahu government now threatens the world order beyond the region,” Erdogan added.
The Turkish president’s visit to Tirana also includes the inauguration of the Great Mosque of Tirana, the largest Muslim place of worship in the Balkans, funded by Turkey. Turkish-Albanian relations have strengthened in recent years, with Erdogan noting that Turkish investments in Albania now exceed $3.5 billion and employ over 15,000 people.
After Albania, Erdogan will head to Serbia for talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. The two countries have improved their diplomatic ties significantly since Erdogan’s 2017 visit to Belgrade.
