Turkey: Bahceli says Israeli PM should be tried at ICC

By Ali Bayaslan

ISTANBUL

The leader of the Turkish opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Friday said a crime against humanity had been committed in Gaza and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be tried at the International Criminal Court.

Speaking at the mass rally held in Istanbul’s Yenikapi fairgrounds to voice support to Palestinian people, Devlet Bahceli said that after the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, it is not possible to talk about peace and cooperation in the region.

"Injustice, lawlessness and inequity is dominant in Jerusalem," Bahceli stressed.

"A crime against humanity has been committed in Gaza. I curse Israel and its cruelty. I condemn the U.S. and its bloodthirsty policies," Bahceli said, adding that Netanyahu and his "gang" should be tried at International Criminal Court.

Bahceli also criticized some Arab states' inactivity on Jerusalem and Palestinian issue.

"Where is Riyadh [Saudi Arabia], Abu Dhabi [United Arab Emirates] and Cairo [Egypt]? Those Muslim countries are not playing fair [...] They are trying to save the situation with weak condemnation messages. What a shame for all of them," Bahceli stressed.

On Monday, at least 62 Palestinian demonstrators were martyred and hundreds more injured by Israeli troops deployed along the other side of the border.

Monday’s demonstration had coincided with Israel’s 70th anniversary -- an event Palestinians refer to as “the Catastrophe” -- and the relocation of Washington’s Israel embassy to Jerusalem.

Since the Gaza rallies began on March 30, more than 100 Palestinian demonstrators have been martyred by cross-border Israeli army gunfire.

Last week, the Israeli government claimed the ongoing border protests constituted a “state of war” in which international humanitarian law does not apply.