ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said that Israel must be punished for its actions severe enough to stop anyone from considering such cruelty again.
“Israel must face the consequences of its actions, ensuring that the punishment serves as a stark deterrent against anyone considering such cruelty again,” Erdogan told journalists on the plane coming back from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
He said the advisory opinion given by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) acknowledged Palestinians’ right to self-determination and ruled that Israel must evacuate settlements in occupied territories.
“I hope this decision and previous ones not implemented by Israel will bring an awakening in the international community,” he said.
The Turkish president asked the US to put pressure on Israel and withdraw its support for murderer Benjamin Netanyahu and his associates.
The top UN court ruled Friday that Israel must end its occupation of the Palestinian territories as early as possible. The court found multiple breaches of international law by Israel including actions that amounted to apartheid.
According to Gaza’s local health authorities Since Tel Aviv started its brutal war on Oct. 7, over 38,900 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, most of them women and children, while more than 89,600 others are wounded.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Türkiye further stated Ankara does not see any fresh talks starting on Cyprus without establishing an equation where both sides sit at the table as equals and leave as equals.
Commenting on a recent statement by Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, calling Turks “occupiers,” Erdogan said the remarks could not be more impudent.
“Of course, this situation does not require us to remain silent in the face of such delusions. As everyone knows well, Türkiye conducted the Cyprus Peace Operation, as the name suggests, for peace, and as a result of this intervention, peace was established,” he added.
He went on to say that Türkiye would not shy away from constructing naval bases or other maritime structures in Northern Cyprus.
Erdogan also urged against moves escalating tensions in Cyprus, adding that “complicity in massacres in Israel would serve neither Greek Cypriots nor Greece.”
