President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in a statement on his social media account, stated that the increasing and intensifying Israeli bombardments targeting women, children, and innocent civilians in Gaza have deepened the humanitarian crisis.
Erdoğan underlined that Israel must immediately end this madness and cease its attacks, stating, "I invite all my brothers and sisters to the Great Palestine Rally, where we will make our calls stronger and proclaim that we stand with the Palestinian people against Israeli oppression, at Istanbul Ataturk Airport."
The ongoing conflict began on Oct. 7 when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. The campaign intensified Friday night after the military said it was expanding operations air and ground operations into the territory. It also cut internet and communications in the besieged enclave.
At least 7,326 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli attacks. Some 70% of the Palestinian deaths are women and children, according to official figures.
The death toll in Israel stands at more than 1,400.
Gaza's 2.3 million residents are grappling with shortages of food, water, and medicine due to Israel's massive air bombardment and total blockade of the enclave.
