At the opening of Mawlid Al Nabi Week in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a fiery address condemning the Israeli occupation’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and pledging Türkiye’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people.

Marking the blessed birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Erdogan turned the occasion into a powerful call for Muslim solidarity against tyranny.

“We cannot remain silent spectators to the suffering in Palestine, inflicted by the ruthless Netanyahu,” Erdogan declared, denouncing the Israeli prime minister as the architect of bloodshed in Gaza.

The president reminded Muslims of their shared fate and collective responsibility, saying: “Half of our heart is here; the other half is in Gaza, Palestine, Yemen, Sudan, and Afghanistan, where the Islamic world’s wounds are bleeding.”

He stressed that the ummah must stand united as “bricks of the same building” and vowed that Türkiye would never abandon the oppressed, regardless of the cost.

Erdogan’s remarks came amid Israel’s brutal military onslaught that has left Gaza in ruins. Since late 2023, more than 63,700 Palestinians have been martyred, according to local health authorities, while millions face starvation and displacement under an Israeli-imposed famine.

In August, Netanyahu’s government escalated its crimes by approving a plan to reoccupy Gaza, beginning with Gaza City, a move widely condemned as a new phase of colonial expansion.

Global legal bodies have already recognized these atrocities: in November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity. At the International Court of Justice, Israel stands trial for genocide—charges rooted in the systematic destruction of Palestinian life in Gaza.

Linking the Prophet’s legacy to modern struggles, Erdogan reminded the audience that Islam commands standing against injustice: “Our concerns stretch beyond our borders. We will continue to stand with our Palestinian brothers and sisters and all oppressed Muslims, as this is the legacy of the Prophet.”

The ceremony, enriched with Quranic recitations and traditional Mevlevi performances, reflected not only the spiritual essence of Mawlid al-Nabi but also the spirit of resistance and resilience that Erdogan emphasized throughout his address.

Erdogan’s words resonated deeply with the crowd, many of whom applauded Türkiye’s firm stance as one of the few nations openly confronting Israeli crimes. His speech reinforced Ankara’s position as a leading voice for justice in the Muslim world and a defender of the Palestinian cause.

As Gaza bleeds under occupation, Erdogan’s defiance signals that Palestine is not alone—and that the spirit of unity and resistance continues to rise across the Islamic world. (ILKHA)