Türkiye’s first lady vows continued fight till all people ‘oppressed’ by Israel find peace

ISTANBUL

Türkiye’s first lady Emine Erdogan on Friday expressed determination to continue fighting till all people “oppressed” by Israel, notably Palestinians, find peace.

“We reject a system that strips the innocent of their right to life and condemns children to darkness,” said Erdogan on X, marking the anniversary of One Heart for Palestine Summit which was held on Nov. 15, 2023 in Istanbul.

The summit was attended by other first spouses around the world, including Azerbaijan’s first lady Mehriban Aliyeva and Brazil’s first lady Rosangela da Silva.

Stressing that they called for a cease-fire and witnessed a unity in voices not only in a call for peace but also in opposition to “the occupation and all actions against human dignity,” during the summit, Erdogan said that justice is not just an “ideal,” but the “right” of all innocent people. She said that defending this right is “our test of humanity.”

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.

• One Heart for Palestine
• Türkiye’s first lady Emine Erdogan
• UN Security Council