'We worry not only for humanity but also for our own future,' says Turkish president

ISTANBUL

Slamming Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu's lies at US Congress, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said: "When we see those who applaud the murderer of 40,000 innocent people, we worry not only for humanity but also for our own future."

Speaking at an event in the northeastern province of Rize, Erdogan said: "Rolling out a red carpet for someone like Netanyahu, going much further and applauding his lies till their hands swell is a great mental eclipse for America."

Commenting on Netanyahu's address on Wednesday at the US Congress, which received wide applause from the Congress members, the president said: "The other day, we watched those disgraceful scenes in US House of Representatives together. We were ashamed on behalf of humanity in the face of what we saw there."

Erdogan further said: "Who can guarantee that those who razed Gaza to the ground today will not set their dirty eyes on Anatolia tomorrow?"

Regarding Turkish opposition's call for inviting Palestinian leadership to Türkiye, Erdogan said: "Some political parties say 'the government should invite Palestinian president to Türkiye, and have him speak in the parliament.' Who says we didn't invite him?"

"(Palestinian) President Mahmoud Abbas, who did not come despite our invitation, must apologize first. We invited him, but he didn't come. We are waiting to see if he will come," added Erdogan.

'Türkiye has become conscience of humanity by standing against oppression'

The Turkish president further said: "Since Oct. 7, Türkiye has been the conscience of humanity by standing against oppression. We have taken action for our brothers and sisters in Gaza and Palestine without hesitation, without holding back from anyone, regardless of who says what. In terms of humanitarian aid, we are the country that sent the largest amount of aid to Gaza.

"At all international meetings we participated in, we brought up the massacres committed by Israel in Gaza.”

Israel has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas. The deadly onslaught has triggered a humanitarian disaster and an ongoing trial over genocide at the International Court of Justice.

"Who can claim that those who are silent about the massacre in Gaza today will react when the same happens to other countries? That is why we say at every opportunity that Türkiye must be strong, deterrent and self-sufficient in every field," Erdogan noted.

'No one has profited from bloodbath except Western war barons'

Regarding Russa-Ukraine war, Erdogan noted: “No one has profited from this bloodbath except the Western war barons. They are still pouring gasoline on the fire and doing their best to fuel the fire. We are working for the establishment of peace and stability."

"We have always done this from the first day, we have fought for this. We have prevented this fire from spreading to the Black Sea by following a balanced policy, and by acting fairly between our two neighbors," added the Turkish president.

'We are determined to deliver to our children country free from threat of terrorism'

Highlighting Türkiye's good position in the fight against terrorism, President Erdogan underscored: “We have significantly ended the presence of terrorist organizations within our borders, and we do not let terrorists breathe outside our borders. We have pushed the separatist organization far away from our borders with the ongoing Operation Claw Lock in northern Iraq.

"We have already achieved the same in our operations in Syria. We will hopefully complete the missing parts of our security belt in Syria when the time comes. We are determined to hand over to our children a country free from the threat of terrorism.”

Türkiye in 2022 launched Operation Claw-Lock to target the terror group PKK's hideouts in northern Iraq's Metina, Zap and Avasin-Basyan regions.

In its nearly 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU — has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

Terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq, just across the Turkish border, to plot terror attacks in Türkiye.

Ankara has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations since 2016 across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018) and Peace Spring (2019).