ANKARA

Türkiye’s Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said on Wednesday that those who seized Jerusalem by force, oppressed its people, and attacked its mosques and churches have always been condemned throughout history.

“This blessed city has witnessed the downfall of many arrogant figures who claimed it belonged only to them,” Duran said during the “Gaza: The Litmus Test of Humanity” panel hosted by the Directorate of Communications in Ankara.

In his opening remarks, Duran said Israel has been occupying and oppressing Palestinian territories for decades, violating international law and humanitarian values while committing "wholesale massacres."

By “turning Palestinian babies’ cradles into coffins,” he said, Israel has tested all of humanity while also threatening regional peace with attacks on neighboring countries.

“With its genocidal policies and expansionism, Israel has become a threat to regional and global peace. The international community must now act,” Duran said.

The Israeli army has killed nearly 65,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza since October 2023. The relentless bombardment has rendered the enclave uninhabitable and led to starvation and the spread of diseases.

On Tuesday, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory confirmed that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.

- Türkiye’s humanitarian and diplomatic efforts

Duran also highlighted Türkiye’s aid efforts, noting that more than 100,000 tons of humanitarian supplies and over $40 million in support to UNRWA have been delivered despite Israeli restrictions.

He added that Türkiye has pushed for a permanent ceasefire, urgent humanitarian access, and recognition of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

- Media and information war

Duran praised Turkish media, including Anadolu, for exposing Israeli disinformation and bringing Gaza’s reality to global attention despite threats and obstruction on the ground.

“Anadolu has produced nearly 144,000 reports in 13 languages from the region. Along with the books, The Witness and The Evidence, it has published more than 200,000 photos and nearly 15,000 videos—material shared with the public and submitted as evidence before international courts,” he said.

By contrast, he accused Western media of biased coverage and noted that Israel deploys “lies, disinformation, and algorithmic censorship” to suppress the truth about its actions in Gaza.