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"Those who remain silent to the killings of journalists in Gaza have no right to talk about any other issue"

Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey

08.12.2023

Addressing the TRT World Forum, President Erdoğan said: "Global media cartels seek to disregard the atrocity in Gaza and to legitimize the journalist massacre under the pretext of Hamas. We reject this unconscientious attitude that destroys the human dignity, let alone press freedom and media ethics. Those, who remain silent, today, to the killings of journalists in Gaza, can have no right to talk about any other issue, tomorrow."

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at the TRT World Forum 2023 in Istanbul.

"TÜRKİYE STANDS READY TO SHOULDER ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO PREVENT FURTHER BLOODSHED"

"We are going through a really painful period at global scale, particularly because of the ongoing massacre in Gaza," President Erdoğan underscored, and said: "Although it has receded to the background of the agenda, the Russia-Ukraine war continues with all its severity. The value of the peace plan, which was put forward with our country's efforts in the early months of the war, is getting better understood each passing day. What a big harm has been made to the entire world as well as our region by those, who fueled the fire then instead of putting it out before it grew, is now clearly seen. We better understand today that international organizations responsible for ensuring global peace and security are not capable of resolving problems.

"We are indisputably facing the fact that 'there are no losers in a just peace.' We hope that this truth, which we insistently voice by virtually breaking our necks, will be comprehended by all the parties before long. Türkiye stands ready to shoulder any responsibility to prevent further bloodshed, destruction and tears. We are indeed going through days in which we need peace, especially a just peace, more than ever. The price of each day, each moment lost in the establishment of a lasting peace is paid unfortunately by innocent people, not the westerns that fuel the fire. It is high time to say 'no' to this. We see it as a requirement of our neighborhood to take our neighbors out of this lose-lose equity they have fallen in."

"WHAT ACTUALLY MATTERS IS TO TALK TODAY"

Noting that the massacres, which have been continuing in Gaza since October 7, have reminded the importance of not only free but also just and conscientious press, President Erdoğan stated that the world is faced with a media blackout where the massacre of nearly 18 thousand innocents, most of them women and children, is not covered in the media as widely as a paper cut, and continued as follows: "Israel has been killing not only women and children in Gaza but also members of press, who are trying to work under harsh conditions, as well. The number of journalists, who lost their lives during the attacks, is over 70. What is graver is that international media outlets accept this picture. Think about it. A journalist is massacred each day, but none of the institutions, who have for years preached at us about press freedom, says even a single word. Global media cartels seek to disregard the atrocity in Gaza and to legitimize the journalist massacre under the pretext of Hamas. We reject this unconscientious attitude that destroys the human dignity, let alone press freedom and media ethics.

"Those, who remain silent, today, to the killings of journalists in Gaza, can have no right to talk about any other issue, tomorrow. What actually matters is to talk today, write today and tell the truth today. What really matters is to make the cries of the oppressed and the wronged heard today. And it is what Turkish media outlets are endeavoring to achieve. I congratulate from the bottom of my heart our TRT, Anadolu Agency and other press institutions that have opened a vital communication corridor from Gaza to the world, taking every risk. I appreciate the works to combat disinformation spread by Israel's propaganda machine woven with lies."

"Israel, which cannot brake the Gazans' will of resistance despite all its barbarism, is losing the war of propaganda in the media as well," President Erdoğan said.

"THE CURRENT ISRAELI ADMINISTRATION IS SEEKING TO SILENT THE WORLD"

Stressing that a guilt of conscience lies behind this silence, President Erdoğan said that Netanyahu and his supporters are guilty, and added: "They are terrorists as the abettors of terror. They will definitely be tried at the Hague Court of Justice. We will be the follower of this issue. Just as Milošević was tried and convicted, I believe that Netanyahu and his abettors will be tried and be convicted in the end as well."

Stating that although they are well aware of the crimes Israel has been committing, some western countries act with a feeling of embarrassment, President Erdoğan went on to say: "The current Israeli administration, who use the victimization of Holocaust as an excuse, is seeking to silent the world with this. Anti-Semitism, which we at every opportunity say we consider to be inhumane, is fanned by Netanyahu and his partners for political interests. However, neither the Holocaust tragedy nor the anti-Semitism accusation can be the excuse of remaining silent to the crimes committed by Israel. The future of Gaza and of the Palestinian people in broader sense is not a compensation that can be given to Israel by those with debtor's conscience. We definitely do not approve of media being loutishly used to legitimize such a dirty, bloody and unscrupulous scenario."

"WE WILL MAINTAIN OUR HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA"

President Erdoğan said: "I call on to the media outlets sought to be made a partner to the crimes of humanity committed recklessly: Free yourselves of this effort for acquittal lacking any wisdom, conscience, reason, or press ethics, of this rhetoric fed by blood, of this cruel claim, and of this nefarious imposition. No matter we are Christian, Muslim or Jew, we are all under a responsibility which nobody can exclude themselves. All conscientious people, members of media in particular, must be brave, stand tall, and talk about justice and facts with an open heart no matter in what part of the world they are. This massacre can be carried out in Gaza today. However, if we do not stop this oppression lacking any wisdom or conscience, no one can feel safe themselves in any part of the world. Because, Pandora's box has already been opened. We may come across with the dirty and savage face of the oppression anytime, anywhere. The actual danger of the crooked point of view regarding Gaza is throwing the hopes for the future of the world in such a pit of hell. No one has the right to drag the humanity into such a quagmire.

"The administrations in America and European countries are in fact doing the biggest harm to themselves by turning a deaf ear to the cries of the Palestinian people, particularly of the innocents in Gaza. The west has yet to realize that they have been going through a test that will shake up the security and prosperity order they dote on. We as Türkiye see the coming danger and speak up with the principle of 'You have to be cruel to be kind.' We will never give up on crying out the truth just because it annoys some. With this understanding we endeavor to fulfil our duties of standing with the oppressed and making necessary warnings. We will maintain both the humanitarian aid and the intensive diplomacy traffic for Gaza. In the similar vein, we will maintain the communication corridor, which is the voice of conscience of Palestine and Gaza, and which we regard as a part of our efforts."

Drawing attention to the incompetence the United Nations Security Council, the most important global cooperation and security mechanism, has been displaying regarding the Gaza issue, President Erdoğan noted that UN Secretary-General Guterres' efforts have been undermined by the Council members.

Praising the letter UN Secretary-General Guterres has sent within the Article 99, President Erdoğan said: "We can no longer be a mere onlooker to innocent people paying the price of current mechanisms' failure to produce the resolutions that the world and the humanity need. We must take immediate action. Otherwise, it is inevitable for us to fall into the clutches of a chaos that will make the world unlivable."