TURKEY: Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accuses Israel of 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza

Record ID: 217601

  • Title: TURKEY: Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accuses Israel of 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza
  • Date: 20th November 2012
  • Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (NOVEMBER 20, 2012) (REUTERS) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN SALUTING MEMBERS OF HIS RULING AK PARTY MPS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYING: "Once again ahead of the elections in Israel, Gaza has become a target. Innocent civilians and innocent children are being killed viciously based on unsatisfactory, made
  • Embargoed: 5th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Crime,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAATCT29ZIN72K5X2W9ZCZKH33X
  • Story Text: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza on Tuesday (November 20) underlining hostility for Ankara's former ally since relations between them collapsed in 2010.

    "Once again ahead of the elections in Israel, Gaza has become a target. Innocent civilians and innocent children are being killed viciously based on unsatisfactory, made-up excuses. If you deem these illegitimate and unlawful attacks as self-defence, you would only encourage Israel to carry out further massacres," Erdogan told a parliamentary meeting of his ruling AK Party.
    His comments came after nearly a week of Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel and Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip. Local officials reported that four Palestinian fighters and 12 non-combatants were killed on Monday morning as Israel maintained its air and sea bombardment of suspected militant sites and the homes and offices of Hamas leaders.

    "Once again ahead of the elections in Israel, Gaza has become a target. Innocent civilians and innocent children are being killed viciously based on unsatisfactory, made-up excuses. If you deem these illegitimate and unlawful attacks as self-defence, you would only encourage Israel to carry out further massacres," Erdogan said.
    Ties between Israel and Turkey, once Israel's only Muslim ally, crumbled after Israeli marines stormed an aid ship in 2010 to enforce a naval blockade of the Palestinian-run Gaza Strip. Nine Turks were killed in clashes with activists on board.
    Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is expected to travel to Gaza on Tuesday with a group of foreign ministers from the Arab League.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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