Erdogan Calls for Islamic Alliance Against Israeli Expansion Amid Gaza Strikes

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Sunday, September 8th, 2024

RKI Web Side!

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged Islamic nations to unite against what he termed the “growing threat of Israeli expansionism,” following Israeli airstrikes that killed 61 Palestinians in Gaza within 48 hours. Speaking at an Islamic schools’ association event near Istanbul, Erdogan said only an alliance of Islamic countries could counter Israel’s “arrogance, banditry, and state terrorism.”

Erdogan’s comments came after Israeli forces allegedly killed a Turkish-American woman during a protest against settlement expansions in the West Bank. Israel’s military said it was investigating reports of the woman’s death and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Simultaneously, Gaza experienced intensified military strikes. Israeli airstrikes targeted several civilian shelters, including schools housing displaced families. Eight people were killed in a strike on the Halima al-Sa’diyya school in Jabalia, and five more in Gaza City. In another strike, four people were killed and 25 wounded at the Amr Ibn Ala’as school, which was also sheltering displaced families.

Despite ongoing mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, no ceasefire has been achieved. CIA Director William Burns revealed that a more detailed ceasefire proposal would be presented soon but acknowledged the difficulty of reaching an agreement. He emphasized that 90% of the deal was agreed upon, but the final steps remain the hardest.

Hamas stated that it remained committed to a prior ceasefire proposal, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attaching new conditions that would prolong the conflict.