Esen Fidanlik
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LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
The Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Friday that Turkish troops on the island would not withdraw and his country would not become another Gaza.
Ersin Tatar made remarks in a statement regarding the air, land and sea attacks by Israeli forces against Muslims praying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Gaza and noted that Israel continued to attack even during the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, massacres of children and women.
He said the UN Security Council and other international organizations remained silent as they did when Greek Cypriots targeted Turkish Cypriots from 1964 to 1974.
Tatar has said that those who remain silent before the massacre committed by the Israeli state are complicit in a crime against humanity.
Turkey has done its best to protest the developments in Gaza, where more than 100 people have been killed by Israeli aggression in recent days, as the world acts as a spectator, according to the prime minister, who said history would not forget.
On the other hand, Tatar highlighted the terror in Gaza and the world’s reaction once again proved the importance of Turkey’s role as guarantor country and its troops in the context of the island of Cyprus.
While organizations such as the UN and the EU, as well as Greece and the Greek Cypriots call for the withdrawal of Turkey’s position as a guarantor country in Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriots can now better read this request at the in light of past developments on the island and the ongoing violence in Gaza. Tatar said, noting that these requests were not valid as his country considered Turkey’s status to be indispensable.
“The world should know that Turkey’s role will not be removed. Turkish troops will not withdraw from Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will not become Gaza,” he said.
Tatar strongly condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza and expressed his condolences with the Palestinians, adding that he supported and prayed for the Palestinians.
Tensions have been running high since an Israeli court ordered the eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem.
Palestinians demonstrating in solidarity with residents of the neighborhood were then targeted by Israeli forces and Jewish settlers.
IOF also attacked Al-Aqsa Mosque during special night prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The ensuing escalation of tensions resulted in airstrikes by Israel on Gaza that killed at least 136 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move that was never recognized by the international community.
* Writing by Ali Murat Alhas
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