Speaking With Pope Francis, President Erdogan Calls Israel A Threat To Region And Humanity

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru/The Russian Presidential Press and Information Office)

JAKARTA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Israel a threat to the region and humanity while speaking on the phone with Pope Francis Leader.

"The killing of the Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh and the attack on Lebanon once again have shown that Israel is a threat to the entire region as well as the whole world and humanity," President Erdogan said in a post on the official X account of the President of Turkey, as quoted August 2.

President Erdogan stressed that Israel's attacks on Gaza had turned into genocide, a major humanitarian crisis was underway, underscoring that Israel had carried out massacres under the diplomatic, economic, and military umbrellas given to it by several countries.

He added that the humanitarian alliance must take action before it is too late so that Muslims and Christians, especially those living in Palestine, can find peace.

President @RTErdogan spoke by phone with Pope Francis, Spiritual Leader of Catholic Christians and Head of the State of Vatican City. President Erdoğan stated that the immoral displays performed at a section of the opening of the Paris Olympic Games have caused outrage and…

— Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (@trpresidency) August 1, 2024

President @RTErdogan speech by phone with Pope Francis, Spiritual Leader of Catholic Christians and Head of the State of Vatican City. President Erdobulan stated that the immoral displays performed at a section of the opening of the Paris Olympics has caused outrage and...

The head of the Political Bureau of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh was confirmed dead by the group on Wednesday morning in Tehran, after attending the inauguration of Iran's president on Tuesday afternoon in Tehran. Haniyeh previously met Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran's elected president Masoud Pezeshkian.

Hours earlier, Israel killed senior commander Hezbollah Fuad Shukr in an attack on Beirut, Lebanon. He is said to be an adviser to Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Ankara, who maintained good relations with Hamas, in a statement accused Israel of wanting to expand the war in Gaza throughout the region. President Erdogan met Haniyeh in Istanbul in April.

Condolences to Palestine and Haniyeh's family, President Erdogan said the killing of the Head of the Hamas Political Bureau was aimed at weakening the resistance and struggle of the Gazan people, quoted from the Daily Sabah.

President Erdogan expressed his belief that Pope Francis would benefit from holding talks with countries supporting Israel to stop attacks and achieve lasting peace before the political, security and social structure of the region and the world under permanent damage.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis in turn thanked President Erdogan for his efforts towards peace and sensitivity to the blasphemy of religious values.