By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL-On Friday, Turkiye’s Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun slammed Israel on X for the Israeli army’s attack on a TRT Arabic, a Turkish public broadcaster. As Altun commented: “We condemn this vile attack. This is terrorism. This terrorism must stop, and the Western world must oppose this brutality as soon as possible.” The attack took place in the Nuseirat camp in the center of the Gaza Strip at the location of the TRT Arabic team’s vehicle as they were preparing for a broadcast. Altun on X, added: “Israel targets journalists and attacks freedom of the press to prevent its massacres from being seen. The international community’s indifference to these attacks also encourages Israel.” Altun called on the international community to take action against the atrocities, saying that those who “remain silent against these systematic attacks are complicit in Israel’s crime of genocide.” TRT Arabic reporter Sami Berhum was unhurt in the attack but an independent cameraman Sami Shahada was seriously injured and underwent surgery.
Turkish President Erdogan via phone, told Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas that Israel will be held accountable for its heinous acts in Gaza. Altun said that Erdogan reassured Abbas that Turkiye continues standing in solidarity against what he said are Israel’s “barbaric attacks.” In an interview with Turkish broadcaster TRT Haber, Altun said: “The president has underlined that all means, including the U.N. Security Council resolution, must be deployed for a ceasefire. Israel needs to be fought with full solidarity.” Erdogan, contrary to his Western allies, has thrown his full support behind Hamas, rejecting classifying it as a terrorist organization but has labeled Israel a “terrorist state” and has been an outspoken supporter of the Palestinian cause. Despite a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for genocide in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has shown no signs of giving in on either a ceasefire or attacks on humanitarian aid workers or journalists despite a tense phone call about this with President Biden on the need to more to protect civilians. Since that phone call, attacks have stepped up with Israeli settlers committing vicious attacks on Palestinians and their homes in the West Bank while eyewitnesses and CNN journalists reported Israeli soldiers just watched. Prior to that, two- days ago, a UNICEF aid convoy came under attack and UNICEF Spokesperson Tess Ingraham’s vehicle was hit, she described the attack to CNN from Gaza, then said: “It’s just another example of how unsafe it is for humanitarian aid workers and how missions like these are made impossible.”
