President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is in New York to attend the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, made a speech at a dinner hosted by the TURKEN Foundation.

Pointing out that Muslims and humanity are going through difficult times and facing new challenges, President Erdoğan said: “It is saddening for the Islamic geography to be associated with infighting and internal conflicts. People, who should be like bricks bound together, are instead spilling each other’s blood because of imperialists’ provocations.”

"Israel is working to erase the Islamic character of our first kiblah"

President Erdoğan continued: "Al-Quds, centuries-old symbol of peace, is now in a struggle to keep standing sorrowfully. Radical zionists, to whom the israeli administration gives way, are staging attacks targeting this sacred city's historical fabric. Israel, drawing courage from Muslims" weakness and lack of unity, is working to erase the Islamic character of our first kiblah. It is slaughtering the Palestinian civilians that resist the occupation by labeling them as terrorists before the very eyes of the world."

"Many countries that act as a so-called apostle of democracy don’t utter even a word in the face of the atrocious killings of Palestinian civilians. Those, who cannot tolerate even the relocation of just one stone of their own or the smashing of even one window of their own, are turning a blind eye to the demolition of Palestinians’ homes," he said.

“While ballistic missiles are massacring people in hospitals and schools, no one is speaking out”

Underlining that the same silence witnessed in Palestine is also seen in Syria for the past seven years, President Erdoğan noted that many states have not batted an eyelid in the face of the massacre which claimed one million Syrian lives and displaced 13 million Syrians.

Further stressing that the reaction shown regarding chemical attacks is being denied to thousands of civilians killed every day with conventional weapons or to children that lose their lives under barrel bombs, President Erdoğan said: "While ballistic missiles are mercilessly massacring people in hospitals, bread queues, and schools, no one is speaking out or taking action against this atrocity other than exceptions."

“International organizations have fallen into silence in Syria, too”

President Erdoğan continued: "I regretfully express the fact that today there is no organization, court or mechanism that can defend the rights of the oppressed and hold to account the oppressor regardless of their identities. Unfortunately, such organizations as the UN Security Council that are responsible for ensuring international security have fallen into silence in Syria, too, as has been the case in Bosnia, Kosovo, Palestine, Rwanda, Yemen, and Rakhine."

These organizations, which were unable to prevent the Srebrenica massacre from happening, have, 20 years later, yet again watched from the sidelines the civilian deaths in Aleppo, President Erdoğan highlighted, adding: "Were it not for Turkiye’s efforts, Idlib, too, would have probably suffered the same catastrophe."

“We have prevented new massacres from happening in Idlib”

Underscoring that Turkiye, while hosting its Syrian brothers and sisters that seek refuge in itself, is also resorting to diplomatic channels in order for the war to come to an end, President Erdoğan said: "The process we have initiated with Russia and Iran in Astana has helped to alleviate the suffering of our Syrian brothers and sisters.

"As has been the case in the recent Idlib crisis, we haven’t abandoned Syrian civilians to the mercy of the Assad regime. Mobilizing all our means and resources, we have prevented new massacres from happening. Furthermore, we have cleared a 4,000-sq km area of DAESH and PKK terrorists, turning it into a safe zone where the Syrians can live in safety."

Also drawing attention to Turkey’s comprehensive diplomatic efforts against the U.S. and Israeli administrations’ illegal steps concerning the legal status of Al-Quds, President Erdoğan noted that this struggle, which Turkey has kicked off saying ‘Al-Quds is our red line,’ has reached a certain stage with the support of brotherly and friendly nations.

“We will not let al-Quds become a victim of israel’s ambitions”

Referring to the resolutions the UNGA adopted despite the U.S. and zionist administrations' threats as a testament to the importance the international community attaches to the issue, President Erdoğan underscored: "We are determined not to abandon Al-Quds, our first kiblah, to the mercy of occupiers. We will not let Al-Quds, the sacred city of the three divine religions; become a victim of israel’s ambitions. We will continue to protect Al-Quds’ dignity, Haram Al-Sharif’s honor and this city’s historical character."

ILKHA