Erdoğan criticizes West for its stance on Israel's Gaza massacres, saying West is 'bound by crusader imperialist ideals'

During his return flight from Germany, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his dismay towards the West's approach to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He highlighted the devastating consequences of Israeli attacks, which have claimed thousands of innocent Palestinian lives, including many women and children. "This mindset is reflected by the German president as well, as he observed during his recent visit there," Erdoğan said in a statement.

Middle East
Anadolu Agency
Published Date: 06:57 | 18 November 2023
Modified Date: 06:57 | 18 November 2023

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday criticized the West for its stance on the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Israeli attacks have killed at least 12,000 Palestinians, more than half of them being women and children.

"West, bound by crusader imperialist ideals, is together. Unfortunately, I witnessed this during my Germany visit. The German president reflects the same mindset," Erdoğan said as he answered reporters' questions on his return flight from Germany. He was in Berlin on a day-long visit on Friday, where he met Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The German government has repeatedly said Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas, and has opposed calls for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, arguing that it will give a respite to the Palestinian group.

Erdoğan said he told Scholz that Ankara was saddened to see Germany as one of the countries that abstained from a UN General Assembly resolution, which called for a humanitarian truce in Gaza.

The 193-member world body adopted on Oct. 27 the non-binding resolution by a vote of 120-14 with 45 abstentions. France voted for the measure; Germany, Italy and the UK abstained; while Austria and the US voted against it.

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