The Presidency's Head of Communications, Fahrettin Altun, participated in the joint live broadcast titled "Do not remain silent for Palestine", which started at 12:00 p.m. and will last for 24 hours. The programme was organised under the leadership of the Türkiye Press Federation (TÜBAF) to protest Israel’s inhumane policies in Palestine.
Head of Communications Altun delivered his remarks at the session moderated by Head of Exclusive News at CNN Türk, Fulya Öztürk, and stated that since October 7, 2023, a genocide has been taking place before the eyes of the world, and a grave crime against humanity is being committed.
Head of Communications Altun described Israel as a "machine of evil" that, on one hand, is committing crimes against humanity, and doing its utmost to conceal them on the other. Altun further noted that through its lobbies, Israel is striving to erase the Palestinians from the pages of history around the world, noting, "This oppression took a turn for the worse on October 7, 2023. We are indeed confronted with massacres and attacks of unprecedented dimensions."
Head of Communications Altun, pointing out that Israel is committing both genocide and urbicide - as defined by the International Criminal Court - said, "Israel is destroying humanity, nature, environment and cities on all fronts. Even though this has gained momentum as of October 7, 2023, there is a deep historical background to it. We are making a persistent effort to emphasise this. Our President posed a historical question from the rostrum of the United Nations, asking, 'Where do Israel's borders lie?' and displayed the map."
Head of Communications Altun, recounting Israel's expansionist policy that began with the 'Balfour Declaration' and continued thereafter, said that international law has failed to function throughout the entire process.
Head of Communications Altun stated that the situation in Palestine is being referred to as the "Palestinian issue" in international and political science literature, but it should actually be dubbed the "Israeli issue" instead.
"This oppression must end now"
Head of Communications Altun stated that behind the crimes against humanity being committed in Palestine lies the indifference of the international Western system, which turns a blind eye to Israel, and continued:
"Today, we are at a point where words can do no justice. This oppression must end now. All our efforts and the primary motivation behind the initiatives led by our President are, above all, aimed at ending this persecution as soon as possible. We have concrete demands and efforts. At the forefront of these demands and efforts is, above all, the goal of achieving a permanent ceasefire in no time. On the other hand, there is the matter of delivering humanitarian aid directly and uninterruptedly to the oppressed Gazans, the Palestinian people, in a swift and coordinated manner. This must be ensured urgently."
Head of Communications Altun emphasised the need to establish lasting peace in the region and to end the war as soon as possible while also noting that, alongside all of these, the region has witnessed immense destruction.
Head of Communications Altun underlined the need for rapid reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts to repair the devastation in Gaza, stating, "All countries in the region, along with the international coalition, must act swiftly and decisively to establish a ceasefire and help rebuild the region. Alongside all these efforts, our demand is for a strong and sovereign State of Palestine to stand firm and assert its presence in a clear and concrete manner."
Head of Communications Altun stated that they demand all actors who have facilitated the oppression carried out by the Israeli government be prosecuted and held to account in international courts, which they believed would indeed happen.
Expressing that sooner or later, truth will prevail, and the oppressors will be defeated, Head of Communications Altun said, "It is with this belief, this approach, and this conviction that we move forward. Our deepest gratitude on behalf of humanity must go to our Palestinian brothers and sisters because it is through their resistance, strength, unity, and sincerity that those who fight for truth around the world find hope. We, too, are hopeful because the resistance of the Palestinian people is a profoundly honourable struggle on behalf of all humanity. They are resisting not solely for themselves but for the sake of humanity; and we strive, as best we can, to support their resistance."
"Israel is not only massacring the Palestinians and the oppressed people"
Underscoring that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s 'One Minute' rebuke was a historic, noble, highly valuable, and strategic move in the name of humanity, Head of Communications Altun added:
"While many politicians in the international arena, whether from the West or elsewhere, have assumed that criticising Israel or standing against it would come with heavy consequences—and thus adopted a strategy of remaining completely silent no matter what atrocities Israel commits—our President has slammed his fist on the table. He has demonstrated that Israel’s oppression can be called out directly on the international stage, with a dignified and unwavering stance."
Head of Communications Altun emphasised that they are engaged in a struggle for truth and pointed out that Israel is not only trying to massacre the oppressed people but also the truth itself.
Head of Communications Altun stated that Israel was committing these crimes and atrocities on the one hand and systematically trying to legitimise itself by circulating lies in the international arena on the other, which are divided into two categories, namely the ones they tell with regard to current events and the ones they put into circulation through the myths they have historically produced.
Altun said that after Israel's attacks on October 7, an intensive campaign of lies began, upon which they established a separate unit at the Centre for Combating Disinformation under the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, where they started to work 24/7 on Israel's lies, published books, and established a portal.
"The presence of journalists has seriously disturbed Israel"
Speaking about the significance of the accounts of journalists working in the region about what is happening in Palestine for the vigils of truth, Altun said, "On the one hand, we are trying to tell the truth to the international media and public opinion through them. The presence of journalists has seriously disturbed Israel and continues to do so. Israel has martyred over 220 journalists for this reason because each and every journalist there refutes Israel's lies and exposes its oppression to the whole world. When we look at this process, the self-sacrificing efforts of our journalist colleagues from Anadolu Agency, TRT, and Turkish media have been great support to and reinforced our struggle for truth."
Speaking about the academic books, journals they have published and symposiums, panels, and exhibitions they have organised on Palestine, Head of Communications Altun said that the whole history is the history of the struggle between right and wrong.
Pointing out that this struggle will continue, Head of Communications Altun said, "What matters is where we stand in this struggle... Will we stand with the right or the wrong? Will we stand with the persecutor because they are powerful, or will we stand with the persecuted even if they are powerless? That is the main question. In any case, each of us is facing our own test. I do not think that these actors, who resort to so much violence, are actually strong. They commit such brutal massacres and use such asymmetric force because they feel such a strong existential fear. Using asymmetric power to such an extent is not something that an actor who feels really strong can do."
Pointing out that Israel has transformed into an actor whose true colours have been seen by the Western world like never before since October 7, Head of Communications Altun emphasised that Western public opinion has come to see its true face.
Underlining that Israel has completely lost its moral legitimacy in the eyes of Western public opinion, Head of Communications Altun said, "This is something that will pressure Israel in the very long term. We also see that the Jewish community itself has seriously intensified its criticism of Israel. The sentence they say to Israel is, 'Through these massacres you commit, you are placing Jews in a tight spot globally. You are paving the way for the rise of anti-Semitism across the world. So, do not do this,' they react. There is a far-right, messianic government in power in Israel. This government is conducting a very aggressive policy to legitimise its own existence and is putting forward a policy of persecution."
"We carry out all our diplomatic activities in this direction"
Stating that it is their and humanity's binding obligation to oppose this, Head of Communications Altun said that they carry out all diplomatic activities in this direction.
Head of Communications Altun stated that this was the main approach that guided their decision to sever trade with Israel. "Our President said, 'It is beneath us to make a commercial calculation here, no matter what,' and took this step in the name of standing on the right side of history, on the side of right in the struggle with the wrong," Altun noted.
Expressing that the outlook and experience in Syria provide very serious data both to themselves and to all humanity, Head of Communications Altun said, "Just as Syria achieved liberation, so will Palestine, by the will of Allah. Just as Aleppo and Damascus have become free, Jerusalem will be free, and Gaza and the West Bank will be free, too. Hopefully, all oppressed Palestinian people will be liberated. Just as our Syrian brothers and sisters fought this struggle and attained the reward, they will be rewarded, too, inshallah."
Head of Communications Altun shared a post on his social media account on the occasion of the programme
In his post, Head of Communications Altun said:
"Today, I was very pleased to participate in the "Journalists on Vigil: Do not Remain Silent for Palestine" programme organised by the Turkish Press Federation.
Our members of the press firmly continue their news vigils all over Palestine, particularly in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem, with determination despite all the bullying and even direct attacks by Israel; they continue to be the voice of truth.
Türkiye is taking every initiative to end this genocide and supports all efforts for a ceasefire.
In the words of our President, 'Even if we stand alone, we will continue to defend the Palestinian cause.'
On this occasion, I would like to once again express my gratitude to all members of the media who are the defenders of truth.
I would like to thank Sinan Burhan, President of the Türkiye Press Federation, and everyone who contributed to making this event possible."
