President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that the struggle against the ideology he called Zionism is not a personal or partisan issue but a matter of national survival.
Erdogan said, "Zionism, a genocidal, occupier and expansionist ideology, threatens not only me, my party or our alliance, but everyone." He added that while fighting against Zionism, they are not doing it for their own interests, but "for our own survival and the survival of our nation."
Humanitarian tragedy in Gaza
Referring to the killing of innocent people in Gaza, Erdogan said the world is witnessing crimes that exceed international law and humanitarian standards. "Children, women and innocent people in Gaza and Lebanon are victims of these crimes, and the international community is watching this humanitarian tragedy instead of taking practical steps," he said.
Cutting trade with Israel
Stating that they have proven Turkey's commitment to its humanitarian and Islamic obligations in practice, Erdogan emphasized that the decision to cut commercial relations with Israel is not merely an economic step. He described the decision as "a moral and political stance to show the world that remaining silent in the face of crime is also a crime."