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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday reaffirmed Türkiye’s unwavering stance alongside the Palestinian people, describing the ongoing conflict in Gaza as a "savage genocide" and pledging to support the pursuit of justice through every available channel.
Speaking at the Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Awards ceremony in Ankara, Erdogan said Türkiye, as a nation committed to truth, remains steadfast in its solidarity with Gaza.
The president praised Turkish media outlets—particularly state broadcaster TRT and Anadolu Agency—for their extensive and courageous coverage of the Gaza conflict. Despite Israel’s attempts to suppress coverage of the conflict, Erdogan said that "conscientious hearts and real journalists" continue to expose the realities on the ground, often at the cost of their lives.
Erdogan framed the preservation of culture and the defense of truth as interconnected missions. He said Türkiye would not allow the atrocities in Gaza to be forgotten, pledging to maintain its efforts in every domain to ensure justice.
"Our fight will continue in every arena to make sure that what has happened in Gaza is not erased from memory and that justice is served," the president said.
As part of the ceremony, Türkiye’s 2024 Photography Award was presented to Palestinian photojournalist Ali Jadallah, who has been documenting the war in Gaza on behalf of Anadolu Agency.
Erdogan said some of the photographs were submitted as evidence to the International Court of Justice by South Africa in its case against Israel.
Jadallah’s wife, Dua Isawi, and their children accepted the award on his behalf, as he remains in Gaza due to travel restrictions. "We will explore every possible path to bring Ali back to you, to us," Erdogan told Isawi during the ceremony.
The president also extended condolences to the families of fallen journalists, stating that Türkiye would continue to seek justice and accountability for crimes against media workers and civilians in Gaza.
In a video message from Gaza, Jadallah described receiving Türkiye’s culture award as an honor. He said his work goes beyond daily reporting, serving as a form of living testimony to the suffering of civilians caught in conflict.
He expressed gratitude to the Turkish government, Anadolu Agency, and the people of Türkiye for their "genuine humanitarian stance" and support of Gaza. Jadallah also thanked his colleagues at Anadolu Agency, saying their trust allowed him to carry out his work "as both a transmission tool and a moral responsibility."
Jadallah also mourned the death of his father and brothers in the conflict and wished they could have shared in the recognition.
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