During a speech at the opening of the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday Week, he added that “the heart of the nation is divided” between Turkey and regions suffering from “the bleeding wounds of the Islamic nation,” referring to Palestine and Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, and Afghanistan. He emphasized that the “bond of Muhammad’s love” is what unites the Islamic nation in facing challenges, according to Anadolu Agency.
Erdogan had called on the United States on Tuesday to reconsider its decision to cancel visas for the Palestinian delegation participating in the United Nations General Assembly, considering this decision contrary to the essence of the United Nations’ existence. Erdogan stressed, in his statements during his conversation with journalists on the presidential plane returning from China, as reported by Anadolu Agency, that “the voice of Palestine will not be silenced,” emphasizing that it will remain strongly present in upcoming international meetings.
The Turkish president expressed his expectation that the Palestinian issue will dominate the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly in its next session, noting that several European countries are preparing to recognize the State of Palestine. He criticized Washington’s decision to cancel visas for Palestinian officials, considering it serves Israel’s interests and weakens the role of the United Nations Security Council in discussing global issues and finding solutions to them.
Erdogan announced his intention to hold phone talks with the United Nations Secretary-General to discuss this decision, affirming that Turkey will work diplomatically to ensure Palestinian representation in the General Assembly. Israel continues its war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. Despite Arab and international mediation efforts and opposing voices within Israel, Netanyahu’s government insists on continuing the fight and recently announced approval of a plan to control the city of Gaza, which international warnings suggest will lead to a humanitarian disaster, exacerbating the suffering of the strip’s residents, with the war having killed about 60,000 people and injured about 163,000 others.
