Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, declared a three-day national mourning period in remembrance of the Palestinians who lost their lives in recent Gaza attacks, as announced on Wednesday. The decision, according to Erdogan, stems from the nation's deep respect for the numerous victims, a significant number of whom are children and innocent civilians.
Erdogan expressed heartfelt empathy, stating, "As Turkey, we feel the great suffering of our Palestinian brothers and sisters in our hearts."
In response to the declaration, Turkish flags on public buildings and foreign representations across the country have been lowered to half-staff. This gesture reflects Turkey's solidarity with the grieving Palestinian community.
Egypt also joined in mourning, declaring a three-day national mourning period for the victims of an Israeli airstrike on a Gaza hospital. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with a lack of electricity and dwindling supplies of water, food, fuel, and medical resources.
The recent Israeli airstrike on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza resulted in a tragic toll, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting at least 471 casualties and 342 injuries on Wednesday. Israel has denied responsibility for the air raid.
The conflict, initiated on October 7 by the Palestinian Hamas group's Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, has escalated, leading to Operation Swords of Iron by the Israeli military against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urgently called for a humanitarian ceasefire to alleviate the "epic human suffering."
The toll on human lives has been devastating, with at least 3,478 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, and over 1,400 Israelis losing their lives since the beginning of the operation. The international community continues to call for an end to the violence to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
News ID : 2543