Newsletters
A Turkish parliamentary delegation led by Hasan Basri Yalcin, deputy chair of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) responsible for human rights, visited the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Monday, Anadolu Agency reported.
The visit aimed to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis and alleged atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza.
The Rafah crossing has been closed by Israel for nearly a year and a half.
Yalcin arrived at the crossing from the Egyptian side as part of a delegation of 30 members, including lawmakers from the “People’s Alliance” in the Turkish Parliament.
The delegation held meetings with Egyptian officials in Cairo before heading to the Rafah crossing connecting to the Gaza Strip.
The Turkish delegation’s visit aims to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis faced by Palestinians trapped in the Gaza Strip and the alleged atrocities committed by Israel against them since Oct. 7, 2023.
“People, hear our voice. This is a cry—from here, near Gaza—we call on all of humanity and every conscientious individual. We raise our voices to join Gaza’s cry,” Yalcin said in a speech delivered at the Egyptian side of the crossing.
Yalcin pointed out that Israel is committing blatant genocide in Gaza, starving innocent civilians through the blockade.
He denied that there is a war against terrorism in the Strip, describing it instead as the killing of civilians and ethnic cleansing aimed at emptying Gaza of its population.
He stated, “This is not counterterrorism operations; it is a massacre of innocents,” adding that “the civilian death toll has so far reached 62,000 at the hands of Israel, including at least 20,000 children, in addition to 10,000 missing or trapped under the rubble.”
Yalcin accused the Israeli occupation authorities of destroying 80% of Gaza’s buildings, including hospitals, schools, and mosques, and displacing 90% of the Strip’s population.
He also pointed out that Western governments turn a blind eye to these atrocities under the influence of pro-Israel lobby groups.
The Turkish official emphasized that Ankara will continue its support for Palestine and will “not remain silent even if the entire world falls silent.”
Yalcin issued a call to the Islamic world, urging unity and warning that division serves Israel’s interests. He said, “Stand with your oppressed brothers, for those attacking Gaza today may target you tomorrow.”
Yalcin stated that Türkiye has severed all political, economic, and trade relations with Israel and has been providing ongoing humanitarian assistance to Gaza’s residents since the start of the aggression.
Ankara renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire and a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders.
It also urged the opening of Gaza to aid, lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, establishing a just peace, holding Israeli officials accountable for war crimes, and making Israel responsible for reconstruction and compensation.
The delegation, which also included Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz, met with Karim Darwish, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Egyptian Parliament, and later held talks with Hazem Suleiman Omar, Chair of the Foreign, Arab, and African Affairs Committee in the same body.
4 min read
