Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that Israel cannot be innocent of what happened in the Gaza Strip.
Erdoğan said, "The Israeli government has martyred 70,000 Gazans, including over 20,000 children, in front of the eyes of the entire world in the last two years. Our over 170,000 Palestinian brothers and sisters have been wounded in Israel’s attacks. There is almost not one single standing structure left in Gaza, where schools, churches, mosques and hospitals were deliberately bombed. Yet, what are they still saying? ‘Israel is innocent.’ How come so? Israel has nuclear weapons. Israel has the most powerful bombs. Israel has the capability to strike Gaza as it wishes. How come Israel is innocent?"
Having described Israel as an oppressor, President Erdoğan once again accused the current international system, particularly the United Nations Security Council, of "delaying decisions even in the most tragic humanitarian crises and in the most flagrant violations of human rights." Erdoğan pointed out that this system "needs fresh ideas and restructuring."