Flags will be lowered to half-mast for Palestinian victims- NATO

The Turkish president has proclaimed a three-day period of mourning in memory of the Palestinians who have died in the fighting between Hamas and Israel.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared late on Wednesday that Turkey would celebrate three days of national mourning in support of the Palestinians slain in the continuing escalation between Israel and Hamas.

The Turkish media claimed on Thursday, citing a statement from the Gaza Health Ministry, that the number of Palestinians killed in the most recent round of violence in Gaza has nearly surpassed 3,800. The statement also stated that women and children made up about two thirds of them.

In a message posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), Erdogan wrote, “In Türkiye, we feel the immense agony of our Palestinian brothers and sisters in our hearts. “A period of three days of national mourning has been declared in our country,” he added. “This is in keeping with our respect for thousands of martyrs, most of whom are children and innocent civilians.”

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All Turkish diplomatic missions overseas and throughout the country must fly their flags at half-staff at this time. On October 21, the period of mourning is scheduled to last until dusk.

According to Turkish media reports, the president reiterated that the purpose of the mourning was to demonstrate sympathy with Palestinians in light of Israeli attacks against Gaza, including “most recently on a hospital on October 17.”

According to Gaza health officials, the Tuesday attack claimed the lives of about 500 individuals. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and Jordan are just a few of the Muslim countries that accuse Israel of bombing the hospital.

West Jerusalem has also been blamed and harshly condemned by Ankara. Erdogan urged the world to “take action to stop Israel’s unprecedented brutality in Gaza” in the wake of the strike, calling it “devoid of fundamental human values.”

However, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) has categorically denied any involvement, stating that a failed rocket fired by the Palestinian militant organisation Islamic Jihad was what actually caused the attack. By also placing the blame on Palestinian militants, Washington has backed West Jerusalem.

Following the hospital explosion, Russia and the United Arab Emirates requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Then, Moscow sought an exhaustive and objective inquiry into the incident that would enable holding all relevant parties accountable.